CureFest for Childhood Cancer

If I had to sum up our weekend at CureFest for Childhood Cancer in a word, it would be “powerful.” A room filled with families who understand; who know and hate DIPG as much as we do. Parents who are fighting for their baby’s lives, and others who, like us, have watched theirs slip away. Brilliant doctors who care deeply about finding a cure for this monster that forever changes the trajectory of those it touches.

The best part by far was meeting and spending time with families we connect with daily through messages and phone calls, most of whom have a child in heaven with Hudson. We cried (a lot), we laughed (a lot), and we found hope and comfort in one another. We spoke several times about how our kids were looking down on us with a smile as we gathered together in one place.

A few highlights:

- Honoring Hudson by setting his shoes on the National Mall as one of 1800 pairs of angel’s shoes to represent the 1800 children who lose their lives to cancer each year in the U.S.

- The announcement of a DIPG patient navigator program by ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation that will be piloted soon, that I’ve had the privilege of helping stand up over the past few months.

- Completing the 8th Annual RunTough for ChadTough virtual 5K around the National Mall

- Hearing from some incredible kids who also happen to be cancer warriors and seeing their talents on-stage dancing & singing

- Learning about new & hopeful possibilities for DIPG treatments from experts in the field, several of whom served as confidants during Hudson’s treatments

- Listening to a message of hope, healing & heaven from the same pastor that led the service for Jace Ward - #Tough2Gether

It was absolutely worth the trip, and we will be back next year.

#DefeatDIPG #TeamHudson #HudsonsHope #Tough2Gether