Hyper-chondriac? sp?

It is 12:00 p.m. and Blake has stumbled from his room in a groggy stupor after sleeping the entire morning away. In his defense, he did attend a sleepover Saturday night and as I understand it, did do much sleeping! WHich begs the next question... why do kids go to "sleepovers" and refuse to sleep. It is as if someone is whispering in their ear, "as soon as you go to sleep, you have given up all opportunity for fun forever!" (Doggone voices!) But, I digress!

As I am sitting on the couch for a moment trying to just finish the last few pages of my book Blake plops down on the arm of the sofa...

Blake: Mom, have you checked me for Cancer?

REALLY? But I calmly say, "What are you talking about?"

Blake: Are you 100 percent positive that I do not have cancer? When I was born did they make sure that I did not have cancer?

Oh my word! It makes me so sad that he would have this fear at 10 years old, yet I am not surprised because he is a bit dramatic and hyperchondriac-ish! However, I believe that this concern is stemming from a young boy who is 11 years old named Zack Mayo. We do not know Zack, but he is from my hometown of Wilmington and we have been prayerfully following this sweet boys journey through the unknown. Here is his story:

On Wednesday, June 9, 2010, our perfect world turned upside down.Our 11 yr old- Zack had just graduated 5th grade the day before & we were looking forward to a fun summer break. I left the house at 5am to meet my friend Tracey at Wrightsville Beach for exercise down the beach & to watch the sunrise. I left everyone sleeping in the house.I returned @7am with breakfast for everyone.My boys, Zack&Nick were up&running around.My husband Ernie had coffee ready for us to enjoy on the screened porch.It was a beautiful morning! After breakfast our boys got in the pool.Ernie had to leave for work but said take a picture of them enjoying the pool....I hate to leave he sd. I did snap a great pic of them enjoying their first day of summer break. Brothers having fun! They got out because Jake, one of Zack's friends, called to see if he wanted to go with them to pick berries. Around 10am, he said I'm going outside to ride my scooter until they get here. He came in just a few minutes later telling me he had fallen on his scooter. He said he fell on the concrete. His elbows were skinned & he had a goose egg on his head with a few other scrapes but did not appear to be anything serious. I got ice & told him I think I'll take you to the dr just to get your head checked - just because I'm one of those moms who always get head bumps checked. Called my husband to tell him&my neighbor to see if she could watch my little guy. Meanwhile, his friend&mom arrived and said they thought he looked ok but it was a good idea to get him checked. My neighbor came in and I said his color does not look good, I'm taking him now. We got him up&he passed out briefly. I immediately called 911. By the time my husband&EMT arrived he was very white, his lips were blue and he was cold. He was still conscious. They treated him as a concusion&reassured me that disorientation etc was typical with that. He was rushed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center with me in the rescue squad talking to him as they said to keep talking. The last thing he said to me was "mommy stop talking" - which is so typical of my sweet Zack. We were greeted at the ER by about 10 people&they said we have to intibate him&sedate him immediately so he won't fight us. I agreed. My husband joined me in the ER&within 10 minutes our son was in cardiac arrest. I'm not certain how much time passed as we collasped to the floor of the ER, thinking our son was dead - devasted, sobbing, crying out to God, confused about what has happened when we hear a cheer&the nurse tells us they have cardiac activity! We are informed he has internal bleeding in his abdomen&he is rushed to surgery. Within hours, we discover he has a tumor on his liver (that we knew nothing about) that ruptured&he literally bled to death. Two surgeries&a stint through his groin, they are still having difficulty controlling the bleeding&keeping his blood pressure up. The decision is made on Thursday to move him to Chapel Hill. A helicopter is scheduled to transport him but there are storms in the area so a critical care unit is sent to pick him up by ambulance. Two of my good friends stay with Zack while we rush home to pack a few things. At this point, Zack is still responsive with eye blinking&hand squeezing on command.I remember walking around my bedroom in circles not really knowing what I was putting in the suitcase-almost like a dream.We return hospital to about 50 of our friends &family who are there to see him and us off. We leave about 20 minutes ahead of the ambulance.Ernie's sister &mom follow us, my parents stay behind to care for our younger son, Nick.The ambulance catches up&passes us very quickly on I40West.The 2+ hour trip takes us an eternity. We arrive at the hospital&they immediately take us into a little room.A doctor, first name Ben, comes in - says surprised our son survived trip but when he arrived asked Zack to squeeze his hand&he was amazed at his strength.Zack was losing a lot of blood as they struggle to keep up. A surgeron joins us to tell us that he can not go in from the top (abdomen) because he is afraid it will be a waterfall that he can not stop.The radiologist will have to go in with another stint through the groin to see if they can find the bleeding liver to stop it.The chances of his survival at this point, they tell us is slim.My husband&I spend the next few hours on our knees praying.I post on my facebook page &get others praying. They stinted artery in liver pumping blood out &now we are Pediactric ICU with another successful surgery behind us but in very critical condition - a coma with brain swelling,ventilator, kidney dialysis and open abdomen.God is answering prayers everyday. Follow along with us & praise God for the miracles as we climb this mountain with our son.

Zack is now in Cincinnati at the Children's Hospital where his next phase of treatment is set to begin. If you would like to join us in praying for him, she updates regularly at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/wendymayo/mystory


This could be any of our children... one day they are fine and the next everything changes. Blake has been hearing about Zack and I am sure can relate with this young boy. It breaks my heart that he would be worried that this could be him, but the fact of the matter is that it could be any of us! I am thankful for this day because it is truly a gift from God. We do not know our future or how many days we have on this earth. So I rejoice in THIS day! Tomorrow is a new day, potential gift, and I will rejoice in it if it is given to me!