I was a normal boy … until I wasn’t

I was just like every other 9-year-old boy: rambunctious, energetic, absolutely unstoppable. I was in baseball, soccer, Cub Scouts and Indian Guides with my dad.  I made sure to find good in every situation, loved life and everything about it. My friends and family will agree that I’ve always loved conversation and storytelling, which made my upcoming symptoms more obvious in hindsight. Looking back at the pictures, my mom noticed I had become pale and easily tired. It came as a challenge when the rug was pulled from under our feet and our whole world flipped upside down.