NC neighborhood welcomes home child battling cancer with parade

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) – A Kernersville neighborhood welcomed home a 5-year-old boy who is fighting a rare form of cancer.

From neighbors cheering with welcome signs to the Kernersville first responders flashing their lights.

It’s a surprise 5-year-old Hudson didn’t expect Friday afternoon in the Wellington Way neighborhood, but a celebration home that is much deserved.

Hudson’s parents, Jon and Shelly Edwards, say their little boy had recently been complaining about pain in his arm.

“They tried to tell us it was probably growing pains and I said, ‘Let’s just get that second scan done just to be sure,'” Shelly said.

Doctors diagnosed little Hudson with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer in his upper arm.

His parents took him to several doctors.

Shelly says one of the options to treat the cancer was to amputate Hudson’s arm.

Hudson’s parents wanted the best possible outcome and took him to New York, where he was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“Where they removed his fibula and replaced his humerus. We got really clear margins, 100% clear margins,” Jon said.

News that Jon had been praying for.

Hudson avoided amputation, and his friends and neighbors celebrated an emotional return home.

 “Going to MSK [Memorial Sloan Kettering] they were able to save his arm and he should have a good range of motion when this is all said and done,” Jon said.

As Hudson starts chemotherapy, his mother Shelly shared some kind words of advice for other parents like herself.

“There are a lot of situations where diagnoses were overlooked. A big lesson on this is that you are your child’s biggest advocate,” Shelly said.

Up next, Hudson starts chemotherapy. 

If you would like to help him, click here.