Blog

As most of us are aware, when a child has a complex diagnosis, it affects the entire family and the entire family endures the journey. It was hard for our children to watch their sister fight for her life since she was just one. However, they adapted well to Lejla’s cancer diagnosis, and her health and treatment.

Heather was a happy and healthy kid. Just before her diagnosis she was running 5K races, competed in a Tough Mudder, and was doing P90X. She was a leader in her church youth group and volunteered to serve in many areas.

To know Michael Gustafson was to know laughter and ambition and brevity. Michael came into this world a leader. He was the first born twin (a fact he never let his sister forget). He shared not just the womb, but the same crib, the same bed and books and appetite for life with his twin sister.

To say that the loss of McKenna has been devastating is an understatement. Our ray of sunshine is gone, and the hole she has left is dark and deep. However, McKenna was not one to dwell on the negatives of life. Her joy was contagious and her heart was huge. Her impact on the world was evident from the out-pouring of support we received from her family and friends during her illness.