So this past weekend, I was able to sit at home and relax which was something that I really needed. Over the past 2 weekends I've gone to LA and working a 40 hour work week had just done me in. The fact that I got to do nothing was exactly what I needed.
So since my plan was to do nothing, I resorted to watching Netflix movies and with the holidays right around the corner of course I only watched christmas movies. Well Sunday afternoon, I came across the movie "The Heart of Christmas" featuring Candace Cameron Bure aka "DJ" from Full House. The movie was based on a true story, The Dax Locke story. I had never heard of Dax Locke so once the movie was over I decided to look up about him and boy was I shocked and in tears. So the movie is about a young couple who find out that their son has a rare form of Leukemia. After treatment after treatment at St. Jude Reseaarch Hospital their only choice is to go home and wait out the last few months of their son's life. The movie brought tears to my eyes, and so I thought my only choice was to research more about the Locke family and Dax and write a blog post about it because having cancer sucks. Those of you who know me personally, I lost my mom to cancer almost 2 years ago. The past two years of my life have been hard, and cancer sucks and I wish everyday that my mom was still here, but its not worth watching her suffer. She's in a better place watching over me and my family and that makes me happy.
Dax Ryan Locke was born on June 26, 2007 to his young newly married parents Julie and and Austin. When Dax was a young baby he started to get ear infections and colds all the time. They took him to doctor after doctor and each one said it was an ear infection and it would go away. On his first birthday both of his eyes were infected and he had 2 ear infections so they took him to the hospital the next day. After visiting 3 different hospitals, the Locke family ended up at St. Jude's in Memphis, Tennessee. Dax was diagnosed with AML M7 Leukemia which is often found in men over 65 and Dax was only 15 months. After chemo treatments not working Dax went under an experiential stem cell transplant. Both of his parents donated but the cancer just came back so hard in the little boys body.
Julie and Austin returned home in October and celebrated Christmas and "Cherished every moment" with their son before his time on earth ended. They fought and did everything they could for their little boy, but Dax passed away on December 30, 2009.
Julie and Austin were blessed with another child, Madison.
Dax's story touched the lives of so many people, that Julie and Austin set up a foundation called "Cherish Every Moment" in honor of their son. The purpose is to raise up to 1.8 million for St. Jude in honor of Dax. You can visit here to donate money or read more information. (this is where i got my info)
The story moves me in so many ways. I don't have any children of my own but their are many kids in my life and if anyone of them had been diagnosed with cancer I don't know what I would do. Cancer sucks and it affects everyone of us in someway. Whether it be a family member or a close friend. I was moved in reading the Dax Locke story about who helped their family. When Julie and Austin decided to celebrate Christmas in October because Dax wasn't going to make it to December moved me. And then the fact that people all over the country were putting up Christmas lights in October to celebrate this little boy. I don't know where I was when this was all over the news. The story brings tears to my eyes. Julie Locke must be such a strong women and I inspire to be like her. The strength that she has is inspiring and the faith that she has gained from this experience must be mind blown. God is the only one that can help us through an event like this.
So this song was written by Matthew West and if you don't know who he is, he's a Christan singer. This song was inspired by Dax Locke and was featured on "The Heart of Christmas".
Seeing all these pictures of this little boys brings tears to my eyes. God brought him into this world to not stay very long but to touch each of our lives. I'm sure there are people like me who are just finding out about Dax Locke. And still years later his story is touching my life. So i challenge you to do this. Change your life in someway. Whether it be, spending more time with God. Starting to Go to Bible Study. Spend more time with someone you love. Tell someone you love them. Do something different because we are not granted tomorrow. What are you going to do "Cherish Every Moment" of your life?
I appreciate you all for reading this and taking the time out of your day. Cancer hits home to me because of the death of my mom. My mom kicked cancer ass even though she passed away from it. When the doctors don't give you very long to live and you make it 5 years later, that's a miracle. My mom was a fighter and if it wasn't for her faith in Jesus Christ she wouldn't have lasted as long as she did. My mom will always be my hero for the fight that she gave against cancer. So if anyone would like to donate to St. Jude to help or any other cancer foundation I would greatly appreciate it.
Have a Great Night xoxo
