"(I) saw that all of his symptoms were consistent with leukemia," Elizabeth said. "So I called the pediatrician."
At the time, the pediatrician told the Carrs that the odds of it being leukemia were not that great, but to come in and she would perform a blood test to check.
"By the time we got home, she called and said that I was right, and that he had leukemia, and that they were waiting for us at (University of Kentucky Children's Hospital)," Elizabeth said.
Gavin was started on treatments, and presently his leukemia is in remission, but there is still much to be done.
Community support
The Carrs have been overwhelmed by support from the community. On April 9, about 125 people turned out to have their heads shaved as a show of support.
"Can't you tell that it was really sunny then?" Gavin asked, while looking at a photo album of that day.
"God was smiling on Gavin's haircut day," Elizabeth added.
Ever since Gavin was diagnosed with leukemia on Feb. 5, the Carrs have received great support from their church family and others in the community.
"People that we don't know have given us things and sent things," Elizabeth said. "There have been some girls from Asbury that have been coming to clean; there are people in our Life group that have come and sanitized; John Crum organized the haircut event with the firefighters, police officers and all of the people who shaved their heads. It's so nice to have the support."
More family time
Because of Gavin's illness, the Carrs have had to make many changes.
"Life has changed," Elizabeth said. "We are locked up in the house together a lot more; the kids tend to fight a lot more because they're all locked up together."
Many things that people take for granted - eating out, going to the mall or going to the movies - in their everyday lives won't be possible until sometime much later when Gavin's intensive treatments are over.
Because of the attention Gavin has received, the other three children - 9-year-old Tucker, 8-year-old Quinton and 3-year-old Reagan - have responded in mixed ways, Elizabeth said.
"We've seen a lot of resentment from the other kids, but we've also seen them show compassion," Elizabeth said. "I think that they understand, but at the same time, they're jealous because they're still kids."
What's next?
Gavin will continue with intense chemo treatments until February 2010, Elizabeth said.
"It's usually six months of intense chemo, and then they go back to school," she said. "But Gavin was a slow early responder; he did not respond well in the beginning."
Elizabeth said his "blast count," the number of cancer cells in his body, did not decrease as expected early on.
"The first eight days, there was no change at all," she said. "By day 15, he was supposed to be at 5 percent or less, and he was at 6 percent, which is just enough to throw him into the high-risk category. So he will get double treatments."
After the intense chemo series, Gavin will have two years of maintenance, in which he'll have to take pills.
"He'll do that at home, but at that time, his count should stay up and higher and he can go back to school," Elizabeth said.
Gavin won't be declared cured until he's been off treatment for five years, Elizabeth said.
"So that will be about eight years from now," she added.
"Eight years," Gavin repeated, burying his head into his mom's shoulder.
Though the trial is a difficult one, the Carr's faith in God has and will continue to be their rock.
Elizabeth added that those interested in receiving updates can do so by visiting www.carepages.com and search for Gavin Carr. After signing up, e-mail updates will be sent as well as prayer requests.
