Sawyer Gordon

In February of this year, my husband and I found out that our son was one of the many who will battle a childhood cancer in their lifetime. Sawyer was a great, 16 year-old athlete, youth choir member, church orchestra member, honor student, and an overall healthy young man who had just finished football season, and was in the middle of the practice season for baseball at Augusta Christian. He had made the varsity team and was  excited about the new season. He has always loved playing baseball the most of all sports. He has played short stop, third base, and pitcher. In a matter of a week, from an X-ray, then many other tests, the doctor told us he thought he had osteosarcoma. The biopsy proved the diagnosis and Sawyer has osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

He has already undergone his first six treatments of chemotherapy and has spent over 30 days in the hospital. During all of this, he is only able to get around by crutches or wheelchair so as not to further damage his leg. He has to stay in the hospital for all of his treatments undergoing fluids until the levels are cleared to return home. These chemotherapy drugs are so toxic they can damage the kidneys significantly. This will also require surgery consisting of a complete knee replacement and a rod to replace part of his femur. The surgeon has told him this means no contact sports ever again.  Immediately after surgery, he will continue on with treatments of chemo and physical therapy to walk again until September or October. Sawyer will have to be monitored closely because his treatments of chemo have side effects which may include: hearing loss, heart damage, liver damage, and kidney damage.

Our family has always trusted in God. Through great highs and lows, we have always focused on His ways. God has been with us and strengthened us though it all. We had our family prayer time the night before the biopsy in February. Sawyer prayed the sweetest prayer. It was a long prayer, but in part of it he said,  “God I don’t know why this has happened, but you do. You have let me do some amazing things so far in my life, and I know you have many more for me. It may be different than what I had thought, but help me continue to do things for you.”

It was so touching to hear. ❤️

This will be a long journey, but our family has total faith in God’s guidance and provision for our family. Sawyer has said from the beginning that he knows God will take care of him. We are so proud of his positive attitude and his fight so far!  He has pushed through every part of this journey with a smile!   We want our son to have the best care possible and do what we can to get him better as soon as we can.

As a family, the costs of the treatments and hospital stay is exhaustive.  The funds raised will go directly to help Sawyer and our family stay afloat financially and continue to pay for treatments that will last for many years to come.