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July 30, 1999 - August 18, 2006 
Welcome to Jaret's Web Page. Jaret was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma on December 27, 2001. NB is solid tumor cancer that begins in the sympathetic nervous system and is mainly found in children under five years old. Jaret's original treatment consisted of 10 rounds of chemotherapy, six surgeries, 12 rounds of radiation, seven weeks of dialysis and too many nights in the hospital to count. As a result of those chemotherapy treatments Jaret had profound hearing loss and poorly functioning kidneys.
He completed first-grade at Huy Elementary School in their hearing impaired program. He made some amazing friends there and learned so much! In February 2004, Jaret had surgery to place a cochlear implant in his left ear. This device has restored some of his hearing ability.
Jaret finished his original treatment plan and was off all major treatments for a wonderful two and a half years. His last scans in January 2006 showed some new aggressive disease in multiple bones throughout his body and in his bone marrow. We went the Cincinnati Children's for his next treatment where he completed a few months of oral chemo. When his disease progressed, we went to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He had MIBG treatment there in May and June 2006 and we did followup care here at Columbus Children's.
Jaret has two brothers - 9-year-old Jacob and new addition Jackson Thomas born November 15, 2005.
Thank you very much for visiting Jaret's page and following our journey.
Please visit some of our fellow neuroblastoma fighters from Ohio (the links are also at the bottom) Princess Eden also treats at Columbus Children's and recently relapsed
Christi treated at CHOP, Columbus and Sloane-Kettering in New York and was on treatment non stop since her diagnosis in 2002. Christi gained her angel wings one month and one day after Jaret.
Jaret turned seven years old on July 30, 2006. He received his angel wings on August 18, 2006.
God saw he was getting tired,
And a cure was not to be;
So He put His arms around him,
And whispered, "Come with me."
With tearful eyes we watched him suffer,
And saw him fade away,
Although we loved him dearly,
We could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest;
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the Best!
Journal
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 0:34 AM CDT I'm sure most everyone had given up on me ever updating again. But, I could not let Jaret's birthday go by without acknowledging this important day. Not a moment goes by where I am not thinking about Jaret in some way. I try not to think about the really bad days in the end but instead focus in on when he was so happy.
Our family has been really busy this past year. Jacob is 11 now and will be starting the sixth grade - which I can't believe! He is getting so tall and handsome but don't tell him I said that. Jacob loves being a big brother to Jackson who is 2 1/2 but looks and talks like he's five. Jackson is the little brother who wants to do everything his big brother does - fishing, baseball, hockey, you name it! Just like Jaret loved trains, Jackson loves airplanes. He knows most of the names of the military planes. Guy took the boys went to the airshow two weeks ago and Jackson is still talking about it! I can see it when he is in school and his teacher says this is an airplane and Jackson will say "no, that's an F-14!"
Guy and I have been busy as well. Guy takes the boys on fun excursions on the weekends or to movies so I can study. I started back at Ohio State last fall to start earning my Master's degree in education. I want to teach deaf/hearing impaired children like Jaret. He had such an amazing experience at school and it completely inspired me to want to be there working with these awesome kids. I volunteered the second half of last year at his old school and got to see many of his buddies. They still talk about Jaret a lot and it always makes me smile.
I wanted to mention one other piece of exciting news. While Jaret was sick, we had a lot of help from the Westerville Police Department (Guy's employer) and their support group - HUGGS. They provided us with financial help, emotional support, food (lots and lots of food) and organized many of the important details at the funeral. They did so much and only wanted to do more! HUGGS recently asked us if they could name their scholarship in honor of Jaret. Of course, I said "YES" after I choked back the tears. So, the Jaret Cerino Memorial Scholarship is official and will give one or two awards per year (I think that's the plan). They are having a golf outing/fundraiser on August 29th. If anyone would like to donate, you can contact me or Guy and we will pass it along or Pharol Kaufman at the Westerville Police Department.
I really have to get back to my studying. I know there are others who still think about Jaret often and are inspired by his life. I am so proud to be his mom. Yesterday, I asked Jackson who's birthday was coming up and he finally guessed "Jaret". I asked him where Jaret was and he first said he didn't know and then he said "in the clouds." I imagine he thinks Jaret is just sitting up there watching us all which is a pretty cool way to think about it.
Happy Birthday, Little Man!! We love you and miss you more every day, Jaret!!!!
***How cool was it that when I picked up the Columbus Dispatch today, because I put in an In Memorium notice, there was Jaret's clinic buddy, Eden Adams, on the front page standing next to President Bush as he signed the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act into law! ***
Tina
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Children's Hospital Columbus
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Links: http://www.cncf-childcancer.org Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation
http://www.caringbridge.org/ne/kaitlyn Kaitlyn is from Australia and recently relapsed
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=codeystjohn Codey is also from Ohio and battling NB
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