Raising children these days is oftentimes a difficult and expensive, but rewarding task.

There are many things to consider before having a child; childcare, food, diapers and clothing costs and finding quality time to spend with them after the busy workday is over. Parents worry if they are raising their little person to be an upstanding member of society.

However, this week we learned there are other obstacles some parents face when having children.

We spoke with Slidell mom Melissa Plummer, whose twin boys Gavin and Nolan received elaborate birthday cakes courtesy of the goodwill of two Picayune bakers and Icing Smiles, Inc.

Nine-year-old Gavin suffers from a rare brain disorder, that may never be cured.

Caring for a family of six is in its own right a daunting task, but when you add countless doctor visits, tests, surgeries and travel time, it certainly can have an affect on a family’s situation.

The biggest challenge of them all, we feel, is the knowledge that a child may not be given the chance to grow up.

Think about the milestones children will experience; their first athletic games, first dance, first kiss, first date, first car, graduations and weddings.

Some children don’t get those first moments, if their lives are interrupted by a chronic or even fatal illness.

The Plummer family and most importantly Gavin, are amazing and heroic in our eyes.

For his own birthday, Gavin decided to forego birthday presents and instead donate that money to St. Jude’s Children Hospital to help children like him afford the medical treatment they need to get well.

There’s a lesson to be learned here, no one is promised tomorrow. Hold your children close to you always. Give them the best life has to offer, which is your unconditional love.

Create special moments that they and you can hold on to for the rest of your lives.

We wish Gavin and the rest of the Plummer family all the best as they brave this trial together.