For the Hemmert family of Grace, June 29 started out like any other Saturday.
Becky went for a bike ride while Kevin was home tinkering around the house with their kids as they were recuperating from a week-long Bible camp.
Becky and Kevin’s youngest son, Krew, age 9, had spent the week often not feeling well but with recovering sprained ankles and the heat many thought it was normal for him to feel tired.
When Krew woke up Saturday morning it was quickly noticeable how swollen and puffy his ankles and face were becoming.
Parental instincts kicked in and Becky and Kevin immediately took Krew to Caribou Medical Center's emergency room for some testing and IV fluids.
The next few hours quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare. Life immediately stopped yet was rushing faster by the minute as Krew's parents received the news.
Cancer.
The following hours were a blur as Krew was airlifted via emergency helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
The specific cancer results came back showing Krew had B-Cell Acute Lyphoblastic Leukemia.
By Monday morning, Krew was in surgery at Primary Children's to have a port placed on his body, bone marrow tested and a spinal tap. Chemo treatments were being scheduled for the following day.
Since then Krew has undergone many chemo treatments and is facing the rough days with courage and strength, even trying to dance his way through some tough moments.
If things go as planned, Krew will be able to leave Primary Children's soon in between regular treatments but he will be required to stay within an hour radius of the hospital. This sadly means going home to Idaho won’t be an option for months.
The next few years will undoubtedly be filled with many treatments for Krew and constant travel for the Hemmert family to Primary Children's Hospital.
Krew, who before this was a very active little boy, is now limited in what activities he can participate in.
Becky said, “Every day looks so much different than the day before. Things are changing in the blink of an eye. No mother wants to hear her child has cancer but we are hanging in there. I’m honestly terrified for them to discharge us because Krew’s condition seems like it can change so fast. I’m afraid of being just a mile away and (having) something happen. There is so much to learn and understand right now.”
The family is very much leaning toward prayer for Krew's recovery.
“This is all such an emotional journey from finding out our son has leukemia to seeing how much support we have from so many people," Kevin said. "We are extremely blessed to have the people and community we do in our lives. Krew has been amazingly strong through all of this.”
Krew has a birthday coming up and many in the community are hoping to make it memorable for him.
Online fundraisers have been set up to aid the Hemmert family during this time.
Donations can be made via GoFundMe, https://gofund.me/16315597, or MealTrain, https://mealtrain.com/zn85mr.
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