We are writing this letter to introduce you to our son Carson. Carson was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in January of 2018. Unfortunately traditional ways of treating this disease have not worked, and Carson has to fight this disease a little longer and in a different way than some. Even then , a cure could not be found. Please remember to donate to organizations that are fighting to find cures. No one should ever experience this. Although Carson had cancer, that didn’t define who he truly was.

This is Carson… a kid. Carson likes lots of things most teenage boys like. One of Carson’s favorite things to do is play games. In the hospital and at home, you can often hear his cheers when he is enjoying a game of Family Feud or Catch Phrase with family and friends. He also loves playing video games, including Fort Nite(his mom even joined in and killed some of his friends), NBA 2K, and Madden. Even in the hospital, he brings his headset up so he can play with his pals. Carson enjoys goofing around on his phone, sending silly snapchat pictures or funny memes and keeping his streak alive.. He loves Star Wars and has dressed up like Chewbaca for the last 2 Halloweens. Whenever his buddies were over, the basement was rocking with loud kids. They made fun wherever they went from popcorn heads at state basketball, to almost getting kicked out of kwik trip for breaking the smoothie machine, and for thinking one of them was arrested at Walmart while I waited outside in the car (they were just teasing). Carson is a kid whose love for life is huge…. And cancer didn’t change that.

This is Carson… a hard worker. Carson was involved in many things at school, and everything he was involved in, he exceled in. Through all his treatments and hospital stays, Carson has been and continues to be a straight A student. Carson was on the math team multiple times and had the highest score for his 7th grade class. He also is musically talented. He had to take time off from band but continues to participate in choir and did a solo ensemble performance. Carson also shines on stage. He has participated in multiple talent shows and children’s theater productions. In high school he got voted as class officer and was on LEAD. Nothing stops him...one summer he was determined to read the whole Harry Potter series so he started and didn’t stop until he was met his goal. Carson works hard at so many things and he truly shines… And cancer didn’t change that.

This is Carson.. an athlete! From a little age, Carson loved sports. His first word was BALL. He watched the movie Sandlot hundreds of times as a toddler - so much that he wanted PF Flyers and dressed up as the Great Bambino for Halloween. Carson participated in all sports including football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and swimming. He was so fun to watch. And if he didn’t win watch out -TEARS!!!! I know it was because he truly put 100% into everything he did. Even though his arm surgery limited his ability to play, he still made a 3 pointer on his birthday. He spent his whole summer playing rec ball, with lots of hits, catches, and even slides (which gave his mom a heartattack - I think he just started doing them on purpose for that reason). Even when he couldn’t play football, You could often see him in the middle of the huddle pumping his team up! Carson is a true athlete… And cancer didn’t change that.

This is Carson… a brother and son! Carson is the one of the middle children of 4 kiddoes. He has always been the kind of brother that could get the other ones going. Since he was itty bitty, he knew just exactly which buttons to push to send his siblings into an uproar. But without Carson, our family would be dull. His siblings would have no one to stink them out in the car...either with his farts or feet. There would be no one to tease them and start the chasing games, coloring with his mom or stuck to her feet so she would pick him up, and begging his dad to play ball the minute he could walk and talk. Carson is such an easy going kid, always very independent and not needing much help. He was also always the messy kid with food on his face and dirt on his hands. He never did and still doesn’t care about his appearance… dressing silly and loving to stand out in the crowd. He likes to be different… being one of the few people from Wisconsin that likes the Eagles over the Packers, the Dodgers over the Brewers, and Kentucky over the Badgers. No matter what, though, Carson is humble. He never seems to let anything go to his head, no matter how good he is at something or how much attention he gets. Carson never wanted special treatment. And Carson truly has a heart of gold. When we were talking in his hospital room about how much it stinks that he has cancer, he said “I don’t even feel bad for myself mom. When you see all these other kids here with cancer, you can’t feel bad for yourself because they have it rough too.” He makes us soooooo proud as parents… And cancer didn’t change that!

As you can see, he is an amazing kid. You could ask anyone that knows him what they think of him, and they would have nothing but good things to say - starting with his kind heart and his strong hope!. Even with all the awful things that have happened to Carson recently, he has not let cancer slow him down. He has never once complained. He takes every bit of bad news and brushes it off with a shrug and keeps going. He deserved so much more than just 15 years!

I would like to ask you today something that would mean so much to us. Please always remember Carson. At your sporting events, say a little prayer to your angel Carson to watch over the team and get you the win. At your parties, take a second to remember who would be stinking up the room or quoting office “That’s what she said” and say a little prayer telling him you miss him. Do something nice for someone that needs a smile because that’s what Carson would do. On his birthday, come visit us and celebrate him with cake and ice cream and good Carson stories. When you graduate, save a spot for Carson because he should be there too. Make sure you own a pair of silly socks and wear them once in awhile to remind you of the humor he brought to our lives. I just want this amazing, kind boy to never be forgotten. I want us to share Carson stories forever. To our stinking , messy, funny, competitive, smart little buddy… we love you and we will always remember you!