Jameson was diagnosed with Stage 4 high risk hepatoblastoma at 20 months old. He is in remission.
What’s one thing you wish you had known in those first 48 hours?
“One thing I wish I had known in the first 48 hours following my son’s cancer diagnosis is how little I needed to have figured out. I kept thinking I needed answers immediately—but this is a marathon, not a moment. The information, the decisions, the clarity—they come in time. In the beginning, it’s okay to just breathe and take the next step.”
What helped you the most in those first 48 hours?
“Our 6-year-old daughter came to visit us at the hospital the next day. Having our family together again, even for a little while, meant everything.
It grounded me in a moment where I felt like I was losing control of everything.”
What’s is one moment in those first 48 hours that you’ll never forget?
“We got his diagnosis in the ER at a children’s hospital, and I remember sitting there thinking—how is this even possible? How could my 20-month-old have liver cancer… and metastases in his lungs? Nothing made sense.
That night, I started writing questions for the oncologist we would meet the next day. The very first one I wrote was: “Are you sure?”
And the answer was yes.
Everything after that felt like a blur. Nurses came in and sat with us, gently trying to help us process what was happening, or at least helping us settle into the room. The oncology team moved quickly, getting treatment started right away, and I’m so grateful for that.
But underneath all of it, I remember the fear. Not knowing what was coming next. Not knowing if my son would live.
It’s a kind of fear you can’t prepare for—and one I’ll never forget.”
If you could go back, what’s one thing you’d tell yourself?
“You’re about to walk through something you never imagined, and it’s going to feel unbearable at times.
But you will get through it. Even on the days you feel like you can’t.
Right now, you don’t need answers or strength—you just need to keep going and trust that God has a beautiful plan for your family.”
This First 48 story was submitted by G.M.