CHRISTOPHER'S JOURNEY

A mother shares the story of her son’s four-year battle against cancer.

Christopher was his mother’s soul mate and partner in crime. They laughed and played pranks together, seeking fun in every situation. But their bond was put to the test when ten-year-old Christopher was diagnosed with leukemia. Upon learning the tragic news, Ditmars started taking copious notes about her son’s prognosis, including the treatments doctors recommended, drugs he was prescribed and how he felt each day. Using these notebooks as a foundation, the author constructs a vivid account of her son’s struggle–improvements and relapses, good days and bad, jokes they pulled on the hospital staff, the family vacations in between hospitalizations. Ditmars also shares the toll Christopher’s illness took on their family, including how she and her husband struggled to keep things together financially and care for their other two young children–and finally, facing what no parent should have to face: taking her child home to die. Throughout the book, Ditmars pays tribute to the incredible courage her son demonstrated during his four-year ordeal, and the joy and strength he inspired in others. In addition to offering advice on overseeing a child’s treatment and care, Ditmars shares the importance of keeping up her own health and strength while seeing her son through his long battle. An invaluable guide for parents of children fighting cancer, Christopher’s Journey prepares them for what may lie ahead, and highlights appropriate support resources.

A testament to love and courage.