Following their son being declared “cancer-free,” American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy and husband David Miller have even more to celebrate as they plan to welcome a new addition to their family.
Murphy and Miller, fathers of Ford, 5, and Logan, 7, announced that they are expecting a new baby this August. For Murphy and Miller, this is a huge celebration, especially since Ford was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at just two years old. Murphy and Miller kept Ford’s diagnosis quiet until Murphy eventually broke the news in 2018. In an Instagram post, Murphy described that doctors had found an “abdominal tumor the size of a tennis ball” during a routine check up, and Ford immediately underwent an intensive surgery for six hours. In 2019, Murphy told fans that Ford had completed his treatment and was declared “cancer free.”
Read MoreThe Impact Of Pediatric Cancer On Family
While Murphy and Miller’s marriage didn’t seem to take a hit while caring for Ford, and they are welcoming a new child to the family, the strain of caring for a child with cancer is often difficult on parents’ relationship. Jayne Wexler, an NYC-based photographer whose son Justice is a childhood cancer survivor, said she saw many couples struggle and eventually break under the intense pressure.
Jayne pointed out that she and her husband will always have fear for Justice's health, given everything they have been through, but she said that they work through that fear together. They try to appreciate every moment they have together as a family, and they even attended parenting therapy to get through some of the harder times.
“We’ve gone to behavioral parenting therapy, which I think all parents should go to,” Wexler says. “My husband and I will always have fear. I don’t think we can ever let go of that…but we have to live each day and be thankful for what we have.”
Jayne Wexler, mother of childhood cancer survivor Justice, explains how cancer can affect couples
Pediatric Cancer Success Stories
While pediatric cancer is difficult for a family, it’s even more grueling for the child. Wexler’s son, Justice, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when he was young, but with the support of his family and a dedicated team of oncologists, Wexler is now 16 years old.
While Justice acknowledges going through chemotherapy treatments were extremely difficult on his body, and admits he wouldn’t want to go through it again, he says he feels proud of beating cancer, and encourages other pediatric cancer patients to not feel ashamed of their disease.
"If you're ashamed of what you've been through don't be," Justice said. "It makes you stronger as a person. While I would trade what happened to me in an instant … if I'm failing in school, whatever, it's like … I beat cancer, what are you going to do?"
Childhood cancer survivor Justice Wexler talks life after chemotherapy
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