Tall. That’s what Henry wants to be. Ok, he’ll settle for taller. He knows that because of chemotherapy, he will be smaller than he would have been without cancer. But this past spring, Henry had surgery that, while medically necessary, will make him shorter still. That was not easy for him to accept.

What does height matter? Well, Henry’s cancer diagnosis is very visible. Like most cancer patients, he lost his hair during chemo. He had a feeding tube in his nose for nutrition. He had a port in his chest for treatment. But long after his cancer was gone and his hair grew back and he was able to eat on his own, Henry carries the scars of his tumor. The Neuroblastoma was in his spine and it compressed his spinal cord. That caused paralysis in his lower left leg, and in some of his organs.

What this means is that Henry’s left leg has no feeling or movement from the knee down. And it’s two inches shorter than his right leg, causing him to walk with a significant limp, scoliosis, and a host of joint and bone issues. So in April, Henry had surgery to slow down the growth of his right leg to let the left leg catch up. His doctor implanted two screws in the growth plate of his right femur. The operation went smoothly but it was an emotional setback. A reminder that the cancer caused havoc on his body that he will live with forever.

And then he grew! A few weeks after his surgery, Henry was taller. Call it divine intervention or a fluke but our boy is taller. He’s now eye to eye with his mom, and that’s a big deal because Henry worried he wouldn’t reach 5 feet tall. But now he has.

What else has this year brought? A school year full of travel, including a week in Barcelona (without us!), a trip to New York City to participate in Model UN, a few days in the NH woods farming and cutting firewood. Henry learned he has a knack for debate and oral presentations. He went to the State House in Boston to advocate for disability rights. He snowboarded all over New England and helped plan a family trip to Mont Tremblant. He played basketball, mountain biked, and found a new hobby creating his own music. And now that summer is here, Henry’s doing what he loves... sailing.

And through it all, Henry trudged off to countless doctor’s appointments at Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He had his bones x-rayed and scanned. He had blood taken, legs measured, his heart monitored. And while a smoothie or a slice of pizza in the hospital cafeteria can ease the frustration on a given day, Henry’s constantly reminded that he’s different. At 14, that’s so hard when all you want to do is be like everyone else.

This is why on August 3 & 4, I will ride nearly 200 miles in the Pan Mass Challenge to raise much needed money for cancer treatment and care. This year, the PMC hopes to raise $60-million dollars. That’s a tremendous amount of money that will make life-saving impacts on patients everywhere. The best part is, every single dollar you donate goes directly to Dana Farber’s commitment to finding a cure for all cancers.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to my PMC ride by clicking the links above.

Or you may send a check made out to the Pan Mass Challenge and mail it to:
Josh Fenollosa, 12 Benjamin Road, Arlington, MA 02476

Every year brings new triumphs and new challenges as we watch Henry mature and navigate the world. We are so thankful that he has the best medical care available and the most supportive community of family and friends to cheer him on. We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Henry and what your donation will do so that everyone has a chance to live a long, healthy life.

With love and appreciation,
Cath, Josh, Henry, Leo & Ruby Fenollosa

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This year, I am adding an extra 100 miles to my ride, starting in Western MA and finishing in Provincetown for a total of 300 miles. Why? The first 100 are to honor my Dad who is currently undergoing prostate cancer treatment, and in memory of my brother Nat, who died of a brain tumor in 2014.
This is why I ride.