Life can be very difficult for the Winter family. Blade, who is often to sick or in too much pain to go anywhere, forces the family to split their duties.

"We do what we call divide and conquer," said Connie.

If Barrett has an event that he needs to go to and Blade is to ill to attend, then one parent goes with Barrett and the other stays home. If Blade needs to be in the hospital then Barrett stays with family or friends so Trent and Connie both can be with Blade.

Connie said they are very fortunate to have such a supportive group of family and friends who are able and willing to help them.

With chemo done for now, Blade has to stay in remission for five years before the doctors will declare him cancer free. September of 2012 is the target date that they are shooting for.

Blade will be 16 years old then and has already made plans for what could be a very special birthday celebration for him.

"I want a Harley!" exclaimed Blade.

Blade said that if he remains in remission until 2012 then he wants a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle to celebrate. For now though, thoughts of motorcycles will have to remain just thoughts. With all the chemo he has received he must remain careful of everything he does.

"His bones are very brittle," said Connie, "The doctors are working on ways to strengthen his bones." It limits Blades ability to participate in team sports. Like baseball.

"I like playing baseball and watching football and basketball," he said.

His desire to be involved doesn't go unnoticed at his school, Clifton-Clyde Middle School. He has been made an "assistant coach" for the senior basketball program.
Connie said this is just an example of how good people have been to Blade.

With Connie having grown up in Beloit, many people here have gotten to know of Blade and his plight.

"Blade gets cards from people from Beloit all the time," she said, "The support we get from everyone has just been amazing."

Of her son, Connie said Blade has had to grow up very fast. He has to have adult like responsibility when it comes to taking his medicine and has been forced to deal with life situations that very few children ever have to deal with.

"Blade has lost several friends to leukemia, including three that were very close to him," said his mother.

Blade met all these kids from the countless days he has spent in the hospital. A place were everyone knows who he is by his smile and the color of his clothes. Blade wears a lot of purple — K-State's dominant color.

With both Connie and Trent having multiple degrees from K-State, Connie said, "Our kids have no choice but to bleed purple."