9/25 – Easton

Easton gave us the gift of home in Cincinnati. We had been away for about 3 months and those 3 months had been really scary. They had also been very lonely. Then, while petting therapy dogs in the lobby of the Ronald McDonald House, we heard a twangy voice that sounded just like home. That voice belonged to Easton’s big sister, Emma, and I immediately had her direct me to her mama and we became instant friends. Easton was our first little Cincinnati friend who also called Tennessee home and having other Southerners in the house did our hearts good. Read the words below from Easton’s mama about her baby boy. 

Our son Easton Jedediah Goad was born on December 27, 2013. His big sister Emma was thrilled beyond words and wanted to hold him every second. Our new family of 4 was complete and we couldn't be happier.

My daddy came and spent the whole day at the hospital on the day I was induced. He was one proud grandpa. However, I did not know that would be the last time I would see him. My daddy went home and passed away in the night. The next few days were a blur. I literally came home from the hospital to the funeral home. I really didn't know how to feel because who in the world gives birth and then loses their daddy the very next day?

After daddy's funeral, our life returned to a new "normal". Easton had failed his newborn hearing screening, so over the next few months we saw a doctor almost every week. I was so upset that Easton could not hear, but knew he could overcome this challenge as he got older.

Fast forward 4 months to April 2014. Easton was fussy and began running a low grade fever of 99-100. I felt he was either teething or possibly getting an ear infection. On Monday, April 28th I took him to see our pediatrician. They confirmed that they felt like he had a virus and that with a little time he would be as good as new. I was to alternate Tylenol and Motrin and it would be no big deal.

On Wednesday, April 30th our pediatrician's office called to check in on him. He was still feverish and wasn't eating well and was very lethargic. They wanted to see him again if he still had a fever the next morning.

On May 1st, I loaded my babies up, dropped Emma, our daughter, off at the babysitter and headed to the doctor with Easton. The doctor we saw was very thorough. He said that "clinically" Easton looked perfect, but he would do some blood work just to make sure we weren't missing an infection of some kind. So, he pricked his little toe and I waited.

He returned to our exam room with results in hand. He sat down on his stool and put his hand on top of mine. I knew then that there was something wrong. Easton's red blood cell count and platelets were low. He said that this could be indicative of a type of blood cancer.

I called my momma and she came to be with me. We took Easton to the local hospital and had the blood work repeated. The results were the same. We were sent immediately to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. The next hours were such a blur. I could not comprehend what was going on around me. How could this perfect and innocent little being have something as terrifying as cancer? We spent the next 11 hours in the ER before they admitted us and we were sent to a room. We spent the next 13 days in the hospital with no real answers. They did a bone marrow biopsy, spinal tap and lots of blood work and transfusions of platelets and blood.

We were discharged with no answers. The months of May, June, July and August were spent making 3 trips per week to the Hematology/Oncology clinic for blood work, and transfusions if necessary. By mid August, Easton's tests had stabilized and it looked as if whatever had been wrong was better! We were so excited and so was our Oncologist!

On August 26th, that all changed. Easton began passing white stool and we were advised to get to Vanderbilt immediately. We returned once again to the ER. This time for an ultrasound, blood work and other tests that I honestly can't even remember. Late in the night, they came to us and told us that there was something in Easton's liver that appeared abnormal. It would require a biopsy. So, he was scheduled for a liver biopsy and we got the results the next day.

On August 27th at the age of 8 months old, our son was diagnosed with a granularcytic sarcoma in his liver, which was pretty much a ball of Leukemia in his liver. We now had to decide on a treatment plan. Chemo, bone marrow biopsies, spinal taps, liver biopsies, bilirubin, hemoglobin, neutrophils would all become a part of our everyday lives.

Easton had 6 rounds of chemotherapy. With each round, the cancer cells would decrease, but as we waited for his counts to recover the cancer cells would grow again. In November, we were given the news that chemo was not going to make the cancer go away and that Easton needed a bone marrow transplant that would have to happen in Cincinnati.

We loaded up our belongings and moved our lives to Cinci. We were fortunate enough to receive a room at the Ronald McDonald House. There, I met friends who became our family. Easton received his transplant on Dec 29th. The prep chemo was very strong. They told us that he would feel as though he had the flu. We had typical setbacks of high blood pressure, low oxygen, weight loss that resulted in getting a feeding tube, but overall Easton did very well with his transplant! On Feb 12, we were released to actually go live as a family of 4 for the first time in a year at the Ronald McDonald House. His care was going to be around the clock, which was stressful, but we were THANKFUL! For 14 blissful days, our family got to be "normal"! We got to be a momma, daddy, big sister and little brother...like a normal family!

The week of Feb 23rd, however, things started to change. Easton was very uncomfortable. He was very irritable and at times inconsolable. By Wednesday, we had slept hardly any and decided to go back to the hospital. They told us that he would at some point have to be hospitalized, but that it was completely normal. Most of the time, it was just a simple infection that could be treated and cleared up in no time. So, we were concerned, but not afraid.

Once back at the hospital, they did X-rays, ultrasound, and scheduled him for a bone marrow biopsy, which was standard procedure because we needed to check the stays of his donor cells and see what progress we had made.

On Sunday morning around 7:30, it was confirmed that Easton's Leukemia had returned and this time it was in his bone marrow, there were spots in his lungs and his liver was still involved. What was supposed to be a routine hospitalization resulted in the news that our son...our 14 month old baby would not recover.

They immediately began making plans to get us back to Nashville, TN so that we could be surrounded by family and medical staff that was like family. However, Easton's illness was progressing much too fast and that was just not possible. Our plans had changed and it was now our job to keep him comfortable. We had to try to get Emma to Cinci to explain what was happening and let her say her goodbyes. The day was like a whirlwind.

Emma arrived on Sunday evening around 6:30 pm. We did what has to be the hardest thing we will ever do in our natural lives. We told our 5 year old daughter that she was losing her brother. She was devastated and I'm sure didn't quite understand all of it. Easton Jedediah Goad gained his wings at 7:10 p.m on March 1, 2015.

Children are NOT supposed to die. Parents are NOT supposed to bury their children and 5 year olds are NOT supposed to lose their siblings...their lifelong best friends...childhood cancer is real and it is brutal. We never thought it would touch us or our family, but it did. Our kids deserve a cure!

Easton’s family continues to support families like their own in memory of their son. The Easton Goad Foundation was established after his passing and they raise money to donate to The Ronald McDonald House and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The Easton Goad 5k will be held October 21 in Middle Tennessee and you can learn more about it or how to support their foundation on their page: https://www.facebook.com/eastongoadfoundation/

#EastonGoadFoundation #tilleryisloved #TILfoundation #alexsmillionmile #GoGold2017

To support childhood cancer research in honor of kids like Easton, make a donation to our team (TIL Foundation) with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1314958