Carter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December 2004, when he was 17 months old. We fortunately discovered his leukemia before he became ill, but the illness still changed our approach to so much of what might be considered normal for a toddler. Playdates had to be screened for runny noses and upset stomachs. Well-meaning friends and family were reminded not to share food and drinks with Carter. His bedtime routine became diaper change, storytime, and oral chemotherapy. We still experienced many joyous moments, but never without the reminder of Carter's illness – the three days it took to open Christmas presents because Carter's chemotherapy made him so tired and nauseous that he could only stay up for about an hour or two each day, or the first pictures of him with his baby sister with matching bald heads, but for very different reasons.

As I write this, it has been almost three years since Carter's diagnosis, and we only have three months left of chemotherapy (Carter will finish just after Dance Marathon 2008!). Carter is a happy and healthy four year old boy who loves trucks, cars, dinosaurs, and almost anything with a ball. He goes to preschool, likes to read toy catalogs, and loves his little sister. Carter will start kindergarten this fall, and we hope accessing his port, chemotherapy, and spinal taps will be distant memories (if memories at all). For our family, we are looking forward to ending this chapter of our lives and starting a new one full of adventures and joys to experience.

So, what has Dance Marathon meant to Carter and our family during the past three years? There's not enough room here to share all the memories, but our experiences just this past week are a perfect example of the important role Dance Marathon plays for children with cancer and their families. Carter was admitted to the UI Children's Hospital three days before Halloween with a fever. Because he also had a cough, his doctors asked that he stay mostly in his room and away from the playroom where other children would be. Can you imagine the "cabin fever" for a four year old stuck in the same room for at least three days?

That's when the Child Life program appeared, with more books, videos, and toys than a child could imagine. This blessing that saves parents from watching the same cartoon 50 times a day is supported in large part by Dance Marathon. And our family can't say enough about the number of Dancers that came by each day, sometimes staying for more than an hour to play with Carter and his sister, giving tired parents a break and the chance to see a wonderful smile on Carter's face. Finally, without the efforts of Dancers just like you, the Children's Hospital could not pull off amazing events like the Halloween Trick-or-Treating - amazing in its level of generosity, amazing in how much simple joy it can bring to a child in the hospital, amazing in the love expressed for the kids.

For our family, we cannot say thank you enough to the wonderful young adults we have been privileged to share pieces of our journey with over the past three years. The work you all put into Dance Marathon has immense value, and your efforts do make a real difference in the lives of the children and families you serve. Thank you for everything you do "For the Kids".