“They said he has leukemia, and I thought what I’m sure anyone else would, that he’s going to die,” – Julie, Taft’s mom

The family photo of them posed innocently near the river still hangs on Julie’s refrigerator. It’s an ever-present reminder of a prior normalcy. Julie still recalls her son, Taft, coming home with a basic ear infection after the trip. Little did she know, that doctor’s visit would be Taft’s last run-of-the-mill appointment.

Nestled just outside Houston in a suburb called Cypress, Taft’s family snapped the photo during a trip to a nearby river when he was 9. When they returned, his ear started bothering him.

Taft’s dad took him to the doctor and eardrops were prescribed. That didn’t fix the issue. The next day, Taft’s grandmother (Julie’s mom) took him to the doctor.

“That day, my mom said I should come to the doctor while they’re still there,” said Julie. “I thought that was weird, because my mom is very involved with my kids and would normally just handle it.”

The doctors had run a number of preliminary tests on Taft’s blood work. When Julie looked at his white blood cell count, her concern grew. She recalled her father’s leukemia diagnosis from years earlier and recognized the abnormal results from Taft’s test, but didn’t mention that, fearing she was being dramatic.

Doctors still presumed it was a virus at the time, so they went home to wait it out. Instead, the pain persisted. The next day, Taft had to be taken in again. This was the third time already. Their local doctors had exhausted their tests and advised them to go to Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus for further examination. Finally, his new results came back around 2 am.

“They said he has leukemia, and I thought what I’m sure anyone else would, that he’s going to die,” said Julie. “I tried not to cry because I was the only one there and I didn’t want to fall apart.”

She called Taft’s dad and informed him of the news. An ambulance came and transferred Taft to Texas Children’s Hospital in the medical center, where he stayed for ten days before being released.

Diagnosed with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Taft started treatment soon after. Julie recognized how dangerous cancer could be, but she didn’t realize the time commitment needed to defeat it.

“I remember the doctors saying his treatment would take 3 and a half years,” said Julie. “I told them I think they meant to say weeks, not years.”

Unfortunately, years was the right answer. Taft’s diagnosis brought everything from small challenges, like learning how to swallow pills, to harder hurdles, like the monotony of treatment over so many years and missing his entire fourth grade year. Taft’s grandmother stayed with him every day during this time. He had two teachers come from his home school to teach him throughout the year too. His mom estimates he’s taken more than 5,000 pills throughout it all. Not to mention the 68 chemotherapy treatments distributed through IV and accompanying 22 spinal taps.

He seems to take it all in stride though, keeping a positive outlook with only a rare complaint here and there. The only thing that bugs him is when family or friends celebrate his courage.

“One time I told him that he’s my hero and he just went, ‘Oh god mom, please stop,’” said Julie.

Now, at age 12, he’s finally reached the end of his treatment in October 2018.

“I remember thinking at diagnosis that [his sister] Jenna was still in middle school and when Taft finishes treatment, she’ll already be a junior in high school,” said Julie.

The passing of time hasn’t dampened their spirits. Sarcasm and humor are their favorite antidotes to any troubles that come their way through treatment. They’re also trying to make a difference for anyone else facing this disease.

“I told my kids that when you see a kid who may be bald, they’re just normal people,” said Julie. “We’re trying to raise as much awareness as we can for childhood cancer, which is where Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation comes in.”

Julie is one of 24 mothers (and climbing) in the Cypress area whose kids all have cancer. They get together from time to time to talk about their struggles and more importantly, how to help make an impact. One of those ways is through The Lemon Climb Houston, where Taft’s family came to support the cause through stair climbing.

The end of Taft’s treatment signals their return to normalcy. For Taft, that also means a return to the water he’s had to avoid for much of treatment. He can’t wait to get back to saltwater fishing with his dad on the water he adores so much.

True to his low profile though, Taft is also excited for something far simpler.

“He said the other day that the best part of being done with treatment is when he gets sick, he can just go to the regular doctor,” said Julie.

Most of all though, he is excited to finally be back to saltwater fishing near the water, one of his favorite places and bringing his fight full circle back to when his family first learned about his illness.