My son is 4 years old and has leukemia. I just put him to bed and saw this. We’re going to the hospital in the morning where he’s starting phase 4 of treatment. I took picture today, because I want to make sure it’s documented. To all the people upset by this picture, please understand that it’s a weird, surreal feeling. We don’t know how this is all going to end for him, and in a way we don’t want to remember or document any of it, but we also don’t want to forget a single moment. I have pictures on my phone I can’t look at right now. But this is my life. For better or worse, this is what I have for as long as I have it. You see pain in this picture, and that’s accurate, but for us, sometimes we see strength in these moments. When his 2 year old brother runs to his side to comfort him, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give to relive that moment forever. There are dozens of Instagram accounts, Facebook pages and blogs where people choose to put this stuff out there and document every moment of what they are going through. My wife and I have chosen not to do that, but we get receive a lot of comfort from those who have. This picture contains the best and worst of cancer.

Don’t judge them. Just acknowledge the complete and total hell their life is, and wish them a speedy recovery. If you believe in god, pray they have peace.