Cards For Cole: How To Make 3rd Birthday Special For Illinois Boy With Cancer

DOWNERS GROVE, IL —Cole Magnus is battling leukemia. For his third birthday, his parents are hoping for plenty of cards to help make his day special.

You may remember our story about Cole and his family from earlier this year. Then 2 years old, he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL) on April 6.

Since then, Cole has been getting chemotherapy treatment at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. Right now, he is in a delayed intensification phase, with the goal of reducing his risk of cancer coming back later on. He's also on oral chemotherapy and steroids.

This treatment makes Cole tired and puts him at a greater risk of infection overall, so he will be unable to have a party when he turns 3 on Nov. 1.

Instead, Cole's parents Brittany and Brad are hoping he gets lots of birthday cards in the mail. Cards can be sent to Cole Magnus, PO Box 4408, Lisle, IL 60532. The family also has a GoFundMe page set up here to help pay for the treatment.

Brittany said Cole has been responding well to treatment, but is in a tough phase now where he is tired and sore.

"Normally he's smiling and happy, and now he's just uncomfortable," she said. "That's the tough part of this phase of treatment."

Cole will be in treatment until July 2024, Brittany said. He will be in this intense treatment phase until early 2022.

"When you have leukemia, I believe, a lot of kids get into remission right away," she said. "But the problem is, they know it's going to come back. So, that's why they treat them so long."

Everyday Joys

Even with something as scary as cancer, there is still joy.

Halloween is Cole's favorite holiday. The Magnus family plans to dress up as characters from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and find something local to do so Cole can celebrate before another round of chemotherapy on October 28.

"Cole is obsessed with that movie and loves all the stuff that's spooky," Brittany said.

Cole will dress up as the character Oogie Boogie, she said.

In July, the family went to Wrigley Field for a picnic with other families battling cancer, Brittany posted on GoFundMe. Cole and his brother Hudson got to run around the field and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream. The boys also got to go fishing that month during an event put on by pediatric cancer foundation Cal's Angels.

"The smiles on their faces that night were ones we haven't seen in quite some time," she wrote.

The warm weather allowed for one of Cole's other favorite things, too, before intensive treatment began at the end of September.

"He loves to swing, so we've been outside pushing him on the swing all the time. That's his favorite," Brittany said. "And my husband installed a swing in the basement."

Together Through It All

Hudson, who recently turned 6, has been by his little brother's side through the process.

"He's a good big brother," Brittany said. "He doesn't want to be away from Cole."

Hudson was recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease, Brittany said.

"Hudson gets shots every other week," she explained. "And because Cole was sick and getting poked all the time, it kind of helped Hudson adjust to his own medical stuff."

Hudson also started kindergarten this fall.

"He's been doing really well."

Brittany said she and Brad have gotten a lot of support from other parents who have experienced what they are going through.

"It's just a special bond you have when you talk to someone whose child has cancer because they understand it all and they get it," she said. "That has been the most helpful for me, connecting with these parents.

"It's hard, and you just don't really know until you're in it."

Cards for Cole

Cole's third birthday will be another opportunity for joy in a young life that has been so difficult. Brittany said a celebration with his family will be something he cherishes.

"As long as it's us, and I decorate, and he has a cake, he will be happy."

For those wishing to send a card, Brittany said some of Cole's favorite things are Gabby's Dollhouse, Moana, Finding Nemo, and Paw Patrol. But, she added, any card is a good card — Cole isn't too picky.

"He honestly likes everything," she said.

The address is Cole Magnus, PO Box 4408, Lisle, IL 60532.