VIRGIL VANKLEECK

#VICTORYFORVIRGIL

DISNEY CRUISE DREAM TRIP

$190.80 of $5,000

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“Virgil has been the epitome of strength and joy from day one. His smile is overwhelming. The sight of mom, dad, brothers, or food would only grow his smile bigger. He would dance anytime he heard music or saw food. His food dance was named the "tootsie roll." His diagnosis has not affected his strength or joy, however, we no longer see his dancing or increased smile at the sight of food. Virgil was just over a year old when he was diagnosed, so many things yet to do and learn, and yet one of his biggest joys was no longer joyful to him. It may seem like a small thing, but the reality of your child changing in that one aspect so dramatically, and in such a short amount of time, it was a punch in the gut to mom and dad. Gratefully, he has avoided the need for a feeding tube- so maybe that boy who loves food is still in there.

A punch in the gut is really one of the best ways to describe what our family has endured- multiple, repeated, and with varying strengths. At times we feel we have been brought to our knees over it and sometimes it just stirs up the anger and the fight within us.

As Virgil's second birthday is now a couple of months away we are feeling another punch. This one feels like they've knocked something out of us as we feel we've been robbed a year of his life- he has been robbed a year in his life. There is no denying that life is hard for anyone, but for a child who is the only one to have faced more difficulties than some may face in their whole life, it's hard to not let that punch make you sick. Virgil, and by proxy, his brothers at times, have missed out on many fun events. Missed holiday celebrations, birthday parties, trips to amusement parks, and the beach, are all among some of the things that cancer has taken away from our boys. Countless hospital stays, doctor visits, and days apart have brought emotional pain to everyone along with physical pain to our Virgil. Our favorite thing to do as a family is making memories together, however, our memories this past year have been a little more difficult. Maybe there will be a time we look back at this year and remember only the good things, but that seems impossible right now. We are yearning for days when we all feel and experience only joy. Happiness and memory-making that will last a lifetime, and may even be enough to erase some of the hurt and pain is what we long for. This dream would mean everything to our family and would heal so many wounds.

We look forward to watching Virgil and his brothers grow and bond over the normal things kids get to do. It is our hope that this dream trip would be the catalyst for many future joyful memories and maybe we will even get to see the "tootsie roll" again.”

- Amanda VanKleeck