Six years ago my family’s world came to an abrupt halt. Our son Dallas was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called a Medulloblastoma. Six hours of surgery, two weeks in intensive care and two months in a rehabilitation hospital were the start of a very long journey for our family. Dallas has had to learn to walk, talk and use his left hand after being right-handed from birth. The six to eight weeks of chemo and radiation took its toll on him and severely diminished his quality of life for the next two years. Through it all, I can’t remember Dallas complaining. I questioned if at six years old Dallas really understood how serious his condition was. However, while helping him move to another room with an intravenous line in his chest and a feeding tube in his stomach, Dallas looked me straight in the eye and said, “Dad, I know I’m broken and can’t be fixed.” My heart sank and I realized he understood the severity of his condition. I assured him that he was not broken, that God has a plan for him, and in God’s eyes and in his mother’s and mine he is perfect.
Six years later, Dallas is healthy and happy. Although he suffers from slight weakness and balance issues caused by the brain surgery and fights to overcome learning disabilities caused partly by his chemo and radiation, we know we are very blessed to have him. Dallas must remain cancer free for four more years before the doctors can declare him cured.
Before the tumor, from the time he was just a year old, I would take Dallas with me when I rode my bike. Now we are not sure if Dallas will ever learn to ride his own bike because of the balance issue. Earlier this year, though, we bought a tandem so we can once again enjoy biking together. Because so many organizations have given so much to Dallas and our family, Dallas and I decided we wanted to give something back. So we plan to use our new tandem to raise money for the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation.
Our major fund-raiser, Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI, for short), is a 500-mile bike ride that takes place during the last week of July. Dallas and I are asking our neighbors, friends, family and, in my case, co-workers to donate what they can to support us in our adventure across Iowa. Every penny we raise will go to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation. No amount is too small or too large. Dallas and I want to thank everyone in advance for their support.
Written by Dave Ybarra in 2004.
A Mom’s Memories