I know God has big plans for me!

My name is Dominic Vaerewyck, I am 9 years old, I live in Mount Vernon WA and I was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma of the kidney in May 2022. I was just 7 years old at the time and most of my experience is a bit of a blur but I remember my mom and dad crying a lot and I felt sad and scared. 

I love playing outside with my friends, riding bikes with my little brother, and playing tag with anyone who will join in. I love camping and hiking with my family in the summertime, and snowboarding in the winter months. I was also really involved with Jiu Jitsu, I even won a bronze medal in a tournament only a month before I was diagnosed with cancer. I also really enjoy board games, puzzles and video games. I was really sad I couldn’t play with my friends, go outside and continue with Jiu Jitsu while I was going through chemo treatment, but I did get to play a lot of video games...

My family was supposed to go on our first family vacation to Disney world with some of our best friends- we were at their house, my parents were finalizing the vacation plans while I played with my friends but then a little while later, I called my mom into the bathroom because I was peeing blood. After that I saw a lot of doctors and a week later instead of going to Disney world I was getting surgery. I had to have my left kidney removed since that’s where the tumor was growing, and they also placed a port in my chest. These were the worst days of my life, I had to get “poked” every single week, I couldn’t play with friends or cousins, I got sick a lot and had to go to the ER, I was very weak and couldn’t walk and my entire body hurt. It was also scary losing my hair, I didn’t like being bald and felt very embarrassed, but I made the best of it and looked like Aang from the Avatar, The Last Airbender which was kind of cool. I also got some really neat things from different foundations and from the hospital, I got some fun toys, I received a little wish and was given a VR system so I could play my favorite game “Beat Saber,” I started collecting UNO decks of cards, and I even got to meet Kelyn Rowe from the Seattle sounders and take my family to a game with VIP suite tickets, and they won that game! I was invited to comic con to volunteer with the Northwest Sarcoma foundation where I got to dress up as Toad! I also will be going to Atlantis Paradise through the Make a Wish Foundation.

I hate that I got diagnosed with cancer, and the medicine made me feel even worse, but I knew that I would get through it because “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” also my mom and dad were with me and encouraged me through it all. And I received a lot of blessings which helped me to keep a smile on my face. I will always have the scars visibly showing what I went through, and I am no longer able to do Jiu Jitsu, because with one kidney I’m not allowed to do any contact sports, but I know God has big plans for me so I will stay positive and continue to fight to stay healthy. I eventually went to Disney World too, which was amazing.