Jordan and Dallas Graham collaborated on a new children’s book that benefits Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Slayer gets into verbal exchange with mother. Mother gains upper hand and walks away. I step in to convince Slayer to yield. Slayer says (with dead stare): Really, Dad? Do you really want to get into this?

With only a few exceptions, I took a year off of Jordan’s Journey in 2013. 10 years ago to this very day, my 5 year-old daughter started having excruciating headaches. As you probably know, kids don’t get headaches often. That’s why we found it odd that Jordan kept complaining about her head hurting. She did this through the holidays, but then she’d sleep it off and bounce back to the fun and spirit of the season. But on January 30, 2003, something was different. She was in so much pain. In a matter of days she would be in the hospital, about to have several surgical procedures, and she would begin her journey as a cancer slayer.

Those memories are still fresh in my mind after all these years. Even though Jordan’s cancer is currently stable, our family’s “threat level” is always elevated to orange. We find plenty of ways to have fun and to enjoy each day, but there is a shadow that follows us everywhere. We try to ignore it. We reason it’s harmless–the product of anxiety and trauma–but we never take our eye off of it.

The casts came off the day before Thanksgiving. She was very happy to be free of them. She’s suffering from some painful blood blisters right now, which is keeping her from getting around very well. But she’s happy to have her feet back.