Infant’s Cancer Journey Inspires Mom’s Second Book

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John Paul Ickes Jr., known as J.P., entered this world on July 26, 2018 to parents Leann Rhodes Ickes and John Ickes. At his two-week checkup, J.P.’s abdomen looked distended and it was cause for concern for the pediatrician, who sent the family to Anne Arundel Medical Center and ultimately Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in Baltimore for further testing. The diagnosis was devastating: stage 4MS (multiple spread) neuroblastoma cancer. J.P. began chemotherapy immediately.

“Most people have never heard of neuroblastoma, but it’s actually the most common type of cancer in infants,” said Leann Rhodes. “A tumor is formed by special nerve cells called neuroblasts. Normally, these immature cells grow into functioning nerve cells. But in neuroblastoma, they become cancer cells instead.”

Rhodes, the author of “Rise Up Shine On,” poured her family’s grueling journey through J.P.’s treatment into her second and soon-to-be released title, “Just Prevail - In the Middle of the Storm,” a chronicle of her son’s miraculous fight with cancer. She said she hopes her story will inspire others in the middle of their personal storm.

“Every day he was in treatment, I wrote him love letters of a recap of how his day was and encouragement to keep fighting,” Rhodes said. “I wanted him to have something to read one day to learn how brave he was at such a young age.”

Rhodes posted her daily letters to J.P. on social media to keep family, friends and neighbors aware of her son’s progress. She said the routine became therapeutic for her.

“I realized many people found strength with their own battles in life by watching our journey and how we reacted to the situation that others may not have been able to be so optimistic and positive about,” Rhodes said. “Many people started following his story and hashtag #JPStrong, and sending me messages about how much our story was impacting their own life in positive ways. His story was spreading love and kindness and unity and allowing people to see the power in faith and prayers and watch a miracle unfold in front of them.”

Her first book, “Rise Up Shine On,” was a memoir about her life, from her earliest memories into adulthood.

“It told the stories of many struggles and uphill battles and how I overcame the odds when they were stacked against me,” Rhodes added. “Looking back, I often found myself saying ‘why me?’ Gut-wrenching experiences life has thrown at me always revealed ‘why not me?’ Every situation in life has built me into the strong woman I am today. It’s allowed me to always know a setback is just a setup for a major comeback, which is how I have survived and overcame many things in my life up until this point.”

J.P. has finished chemotherapy and is living life as a happy baby. His once bald head is growing hair again. He undergoes routine tests to ensure he’s cancer-free.

“Every person has trials and tribulations in their life. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it,” Rhodes said. “Your energy, mindset and outlook on life and situations is powerful. Sometimes you just need reminders that you were given this life because you are strong enough to survive it.”

“Just Prevail - In the Middle of the Storm,” will be available on April 25, as an e-book and in print through Amazon.

The author and her son will hold two book signing events in May: Thursday, May 9, from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Cheshire Crab Restaurant in Pasadena, and Monday, May 13, from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Brio Bistro in Annapolis. Special edition books with J.P.’s handprint will be inside the books at each event.

To follow J.P.’s journey, follow Leann Rhodes-Ickes on Facebook.

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