Kretz Family

Mac Kretz was diagnosed with a brain tumor January 7th, 2008 right after his 12th birthday. He was rushed by ambulance from Gettysburg Pediatrics to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. January 10th Mac had a partial resection of his brain tumor. Mac spent 12 days in the hospital in January. After the initial surgery Mac was beginning to feel better and had returned to school partial days when his headaches returned. It became necessary to re-admit Mac to the hospital and February 12th Mac had a VP shunt and a med port implanted. The med port would make it easier for blood draws and the administration of chemotherapy.

February 18th Mac arrived early in clinic to begin his first chemotherapy treatment. Mac was afraid, the port had just been implanted the week before and it was still sore. The thought of having needles stuck in his chest was pretty terrifying.

In walked Nick Peterson with a smile. Nick was also having chemo that day. Nick, a 16 year old, talked to Mac and tried to put his mind at ease. Joanne from the oncology clinic had already discussed with Mac what to expect with his port. And Mac would grow to love Joanne and her kind manner. But that first day, when Nick asked Mac if he would like to go along and see what happened when he had his port accessed, it helped calm the fear.

Mac and Nick became friends after that February day in the oncology clinic. Although they didn’t have the same diagnosis, they both had to go through port accesses, lab tests, MRI’s, nausea, weight loss, hair loss and the many trials that go with a cancer, or tumor diagnosis. They also, both, live in the Gettysburg Area, share the same pediatricians and had the same primary oncologist at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Mac and Nick, as well as many kids we have met going through this process, share wisdom beyond their years and a desire to make a difference in other’s lives. These wonderful young people have taught us a lesson about courage and determination. We are better people because of them.

It is awesome that Penn State students through THON and The Four Diamonds Fund recognize the blessings they receive by being involved with these families. In turn the enthusiasm and hope given to the families from the Penn State students is irreplaceable.

There are blessings that go with the hardships. There have been many wonderful people we have met. Dr. Comito and the staff in the pediatric oncology clinic have provided excellent, compassionate care. Nick, Brandon, Allison, the many other children at clinic and their families have become like a family to us, as we go through this journey together. Students from Penn State and our group, The Navigator’s, have provided support and encouragement while working to support the Four Diamonds Fund and children with cancer. We have become acutely aware of the importance of living each day to the fullest. We know that having faith and hope are important parts of living through the diagnosis of a life threatening illness. And, to do this on our own would be so very much harder.

So, for today---
                                          I get by with a little help from my friends.-John Lennon
The family of Mac Kretz