Landens new pediatrician, Amy mentioned what the urgent-care doctor had said and asked if he could run some blood tests. Its never cancer, he told her. He diagnosed Landen with tonsillitis, and prescribed antibiotics. Landen seemed fine at his birthday party, and wolfed down pizza and the massive chocolate Minecraft cake his grandmother had made.

The morning of June 29, the family drove to a pet store to pick out a fish for Corben. As he deliberated among the bright blue and red beta fish, Landen turned gray and collapsed. Thinking that hed had a bad reaction to the antibiotics, Callen rushed him to the hospital.

In just a few hours, the couple went from worrying about whether rain would spoil that evenings fireworks to confronting every parents nightmare. Aftersome stretches required daily infusions.

Callens mother and stepfather, colleagues, and friends rushed to help, providing lunches, dinners, even breakfasts, so the family could focus on Landen and managing his hospital schedule. Amys co-workers donated sick leave.

The couple tried to make life as normal as possible for Corben; both continued working, and resolved never to show their fear to their son. Nobody ever got a trophy for crying on the floor for three years, Amy said.

Early this winter, news of the pandemic began to percolate. Because Landens treatments impaired his immune system, he was at risk for opportunistic infections. The family had initiated a series of precautions: limiting visitors; carrying hand sanitizer; washing every item that came into their house. We were acting as if Covid existed before Covid