In One Second, Everything Can Change-Liam’s Journey
Narrative: Ellen E. Withers
Illustrations: Mallory Withers, Liam’s mother
(Liam is a big fan of Charles Schultz and Peanuts characters, which is why there are several nods to the wonderful cartoonist in Mallory’s artwork.)
It was nearly a year ago when my grandson, Liam, aged eleven, complained of headaches. His parents took him to the pediatrician, and they tested various things, but found nothing wrong. About a week after that, his face swelled one night, so his mother took him to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Emergency Room to find out what was happening. Overnight they ran a multitude of tests and determined that Liam had leukemia.
It was a gut punch. All priorities changed for every member of the family.
Liam began chemotherapy, and we all prayed for a cure. But we discovered that many other people would share his journey. The magnitude of love, prayers, and wishes of hope from everyone surprised us. So many have wished and prayed for a cure for our smiling, brave Liam. Food, toys for Liam and his two younger brothers, handmade quilts, blankets, and a multitude of thoughtful gifts poured in.
Liam’s Fight Club began.
Liam’s mother, Mallory Withers, set up a Facebook page titled Liam’s Fight Club to keep people informed. Hundreds of people have joined since its inception.
When Liam asked for fun socks to wear to his clinic visits, and then to pass them on to other children who will receive treatment at Children’s, so many socks arrived. They’re still arriving, and he still loves them.
The number of people who wanted to keep the smile on a young boy’s face through the toughest journey he could ever imagine amazed us.
Everyone at Children’s Hospital, from shuttle drivers and support staff to the medical staff and beyond, has been a blessing to Liam and the rest of the family.
Liam’s chemotherapy didn’t fully cure him after months of treatment, so a bone marrow transplant was recommended.
Liam’s younger brothers were the best candidates for bone marrow donation, and his youngest brother, Maverick, turned out to be a great match. At seven years old, Maverick rose to the challenge of saving his brother’s life by donating some bone marrow to Liam.
Although the transplant preparation was a brutal fight involving radiation and chemotherapy, Liam smiled through it. Then the transplant was made, and the waiting began for engraftment. Now he is beyond most of the radiation sickness and is doing great. He’s almost halfway through the 100 days of isolation (both in hospital and at the Ronald McDonald House on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital campus) needed so his weakened immune system can regenerate.
These beautiful pictures are Mallory’s gift to Liam while they spend the 100 days of isolation together. She painted these watercolors as a visual story of his journey and to document all the angels who have worked so hard for Liam to be happy and healthy again.
A huge thank you to everyone who shared this journey with us. The prayers, good wishes, encouragement, and gifts have transformed lemons into lemonade. We will always be grateful for everything that has been done and grateful to God for placing the talented and caring people with Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Liam’s path.
There have been many unexpected blessings for me along this journey. I am grateful to God for all of them: the extra time I spent with Liam prior to his transplant; the extra time helping to care for his two younger brothers, Dax and Maverick; experiencing in person all the wonderful people out there who have responded to Liam’s journey in such positive and caring ways.
I’ve watched bored employees in fast-food service transform into enthusiastic, charming people when they realized the child in my car was fighting a serious disease. They made him smile and wished him the best. It moved me every time it happened. The world seems to dwell on negative things, but this journey has shown me there are fantastic people out there, filled with caring hearts and a desire to help.
My writing has taken a “back seat,” but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. With a bright outlook for Liam, this journey has given me many blessings to document in the near future.
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