It’s amazing how much one can learn from a four year old. Callen teaches me more and more about life every day. When he says things like “I’m always okay”, or even just when he smiles, he teaches me that I am the decider of my own happiness.

Callen is going through more pain than I can even imagine. When I see that little face of his light up, I am amazed. I cannot begin to describe how inspiring he is. I was just 18 when I found out about Callen’s diagnosis. When Dad said, “Callen has Leukemia”, it felt like the weight of the world had just fallen on top of me. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak; I was paralyzed. As I was standing there, I was beyond confused as to why, just why, those words had just come out of my father’s mouth.

As I said before, I had just turned 18 when I found out about Callen’s diagnoses; 18 and two weeks to be exact. This was the first of more awful news to come during my adult life, and it was a real eye opener. I realized that day more than ever that awful things are going to happen in life that none of us ask for. Callen however has helped me pick up on something even more lately, and that is that there is beauty to everything, even in the worst of situations.

When he smiles at me, despite his awful disease and procedures that NO ONE his age should have to go through, he gives me hope. Callen gives me hope that despite every awful situation I go through in life, there is a bright side. When he smiles at me, he’s showing me that at least he is breathing, and at least is able to smile, and is able to pet his dog and sing silly songs.

I was terrified of what the future held for me after hearing about Callen’s diagnoses. I was afraid of all of the other awful news in store for me in my life. Callen gives me hope though, and has taught me to not be afraid, because there are so many reasons to be happy that we all take for granted. I plan to live and think like this for the rest of my life, all thanks to my amazing little brother, Callen Tyson.

He is my super hero.