10/23/25

The day started off with a chiropractor appointment at 0800 with Dr. Aubree in Brunswick. Zeke has been going to her since he was born for some craniosacral therapy. The last time she saw him was 3 weeks prior. While palpating his abdomen she noticed a lump that wasn’t there 3 weeks ago. She was concerned about it and told Anna to come back the following day (after he has some bowel movements) to see if the mass was still palpable, and if it was, to get it evaluated asap.

With Yaro’s history of Wilms tumor when he was 9 months old this raised suspicion for Anna and she immediately called Zeke’s pediatrician for an appointment. Luckily they had an opening at 4pm. So the appointment was booked.

We met with our pediatrician’s NP, who also palpated his abdomen and noted that it may be a mass but also felt like muscle. Therefore she ordered a stat ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis to determine what was there. After speaking with the front desk, by the Grace of God there was one appointment available in an hour in the same building! Completely unheard of and completely the work of the Lord. We quickly accepted the appointment and went downstairs to wait.

The staff came and got us about 30 minutes later and said they could fit us in earlier and took us back. After holding Zeke down for what felt like an eternity the scans were done and we were sent home and instructed to wait for a phone call with results.

Driving home, getting off on the exit to Royalton Road we received a phone call and on the other end was the NP who put the order in. “I wish I had better news for you guys but there is something there and we need to send you to the emergency room. I will call ahead and let them know you’re coming and oncology will meet you there.”

So, with tears streaming down our faces as our sweet baby slept peacefully in his carseat, we turned right around and drove straight to Fairview Hospital. We were taken back in the emergency room where they obtained some vitals and began the IV access attempts. The first nurse tried twice (one in each AC), both failed. Then the next nurse tried with an IV Finder light, same thing, both failed. Finally they called anesthesia (the pros) to try. Anesthesia tried one in his hand, failed. Then one with ultra sound in AC, failed again. In their defense- they did everything correctly, Zeke’s tiny veins just couldn’t handle the pressure of the catheter and collapsed every time they tried.

At this point Zeke was absolutely worn out from crying and thrashing from being held down SIX different times for IV attempts. They found us a bed at Cleveland Clinic Main’s pediatric oncology and we all agreed that we wouldn’t attempt another IV until we got to Cleveland Clinic Main.

Our Pastor unexpectedly showed up to be with us for a little while and to pray over Zeke. We have never felt so cared for in such a sorrowful moment. The ER doctor let us drive ourselves to the hospital and a pediatric ICU doctor was already notified about our need for an IV and came to the bedside to place it. Our day finally ended with the ICU doctor successfully placing an excellent IV and Zeke fell asleep at the comfort of his mother’s breast. And so the rest of our new life began.