ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — As a parent, no one can prepare you to hear the word, "cancer." Yet, that's the reality Ian and Molly Rockwood were faced with a few weeks ago, when their 7-year-old son, Spencer, was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia.
It's been a jarring few weeks: Sleepless nights, tough treatments, and endless time at the hospital. But the person showing the most strength is Spencer.
"He's very stoic and enduring. It's again, another inspiration is to see how him handling this makes, you know...it's hard to articulate how it makes me feel," Ian Rockwood, Spencer's dad said.
Since Spencer has been at the Cleveland Clinic for treatment, his community has stepped up to the plate. He even has his own social media pages and hashtag #OurDAWGSpencer.
There's a GoFundMe page and meal trains, too. It's all organized by close family friend, Jessica Siborek, and her husband.
"Spencer is the kid that's running around the neighborhood at a hundred miles per hour, always playing, always going crazy. He's kind, he's caring, he's compassionate," Jessica said.
He's beloved, and that's why his friends and travel baseball teammates have been holding dozens of lemonade stands all over town. They're cheering him on, while he can't be with them on the field.
"I don't think we can ever express our gratitude in an appropriate way to the Rocky River community. The way they've come out and shown love support, has been so flooring emotionally," Ian said.
"Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," Molly Rockwood, Spencer's mom said.
To follow Spencer on Twitter, click HERE.
To contribute to his GoFundMe, click HERE.
Here are a few lemonade stands in Rocky River for Spencer you can support this weekend:
- Saturday, May 27: Corner of Bates Road and Bartlett Drive from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Saturday, May 27: Corner of Wooster and Westover from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Sunday, May 28: Corner of Erie and Morewood Parkway from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Sunday, May 28: Lake Road Market from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
