Thank you for asking

My "Christian" has been in the hospital for 17 days as of today.  It's been a long, extremely difficult haul this time.  Family and friends are constantly calling, texting, and "Facebooking" to check on him.  But today someone actually asked, "How is 'Lance' doing?"  My 17 year old Lance also has Severe Hemophilia and has been extremely blessed to not have complications.  But he struggles with the family through Christian's bleeds and hospitalizations.

My husband and I try to keep life as normal as possible for Lance by keeping his school and rehearsal schedule as unaffected as possible.  And for the most part it is uninterrupted. 

But what most 17 year old young men do not have to do is help hold their little brother down as his port is being accessed. 

Most 17 year old young men are not carrying their brother up and down the stairs because his little brother can't walk because of a bleed. 

And most 17 year olds are not nearly as compassionate as my Lance because when his little brother hurts, he hurts too.

Our children with chronic illnesses grow up at a different rate than most.  Maybe it's not obvious because they truly are goofy kids, but when it comes down to what matters most, they are heads and shoulders above most.

Thank you, for asking about my Lance.  He matters too.  Don't leave out the brothers and sisters, they are also on the journey.