We Can Do This!

Grayson’s Story

It was small knot on his neck. We had it checked out at his 14-year well-check, and then we heard the words no parents ever want to hear. Grayson had cancer.  

After an ultra sound and then immediately a PET/CT scan, our pediatrician had us meet her in her office. The three of us sat there waiting the results of the scan. She walked in, and honestly said, “It’s not good news. It looks like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” In that moment, Josh and I’s minds were reeling with questions and our hearts were breaking with such difficult news. 

Grayson turns to us and says, “We can do this.” These four, simple, yet powerful, words became our motto!  

When the diagnosis was given, our son had the courage and bravery to speak hope into our hurting hearts: “We can do this.” We, as parents, needed that. Neither of us were able, nor at a place, in that devastating moment as the word, cancer, rang in our ears to say anything of the sorts. But Grayson did! He spoke with such boldness that our fears abated, and we, too, believed we could do this. 

WE – it was going to be a group effort. As the weeks went on, and the treatments became increasingly difficult, Grayson relied on us to speak those beloved words of hope to him. He needed his reminder of “We can do this.” As the sickness and anxiety grew, and the chemo became unbearable at times, it was our turn to speak in the same boldness as he had for him to be strengthened, encouraged, and find hope in the hurting. That is why it is WE can do this, and not I. At times, I couldn’t do it, neither could Josh nor the creator of the phrase, Grayson, could do it. But together, we could! 

And it wasn’t just the three of us. It was the outpouring of prayers and support from our family, church, and community. Our art teacher made him a sign that hung in his room, his sisters made banners that were staked at the end of the driveway as he returned from another gut-wrenching round of chemo, and countless wrists in Rome & Floyd County wore blue rubber band bracelets all stating, “We Can Do This.” 

Yes, it was certainly a We. And guess what?! We DID it!! Grayson is now cancer-free, and we thank God and all the WE who played a part in helping Grayson do it.