I am the mother of MaKayla. MaKayla found out on September 21, 2023, that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She was admitted to St. Francis Hospital in Greenwood, Indiana. During the next three and a half months, MaKayla underwent treatment and several procedures. I cannot begin to explain the faith and strength my daughter had during this process.
In July of 2017, our world was turned upside down. Our son, Larry Paul (LP), was experiencing back pain and was extremely tired. After multiple trips to doctors and ER visits over seven days, he was taken down to UMMC in Baltimore and diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). After a 28-day battle of fighting ferociously, he passed away.
On November 6, 2022, God spoke to me and told me to take Aiden to the hospital. He had a lingering cough and random fevers that would come and go over the month. I took my parents to Philly airport and stopped by Nemours in Wilmington. I figured they would run some tests, and I would be told he had some infection. We would get medications and be on our way.
Cayden was only three years old when he was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in April 2020. Before his diagnosis, Cayden was full of energy, and he loved to eat. But then he started to complain about leg pain. We first thought it was just a growth spurt, but the pain got so bad that he could not walk. He also lost his appetite.
This past week marked 100 days in remission post-transplant. I am 27 and was diagnosed about a year ago on November 8, 2023, with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Anyone who is familiar with this disease has an idea of what I've been through.
Chris was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in January 2022. He underwent several rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant (his sister was a perfect match!) to put him in remission in May 2022. During the course of his remission, we bought a house, got married, and planned a wedding until he relapsed one year to the date of his initial diagnosis.
My granddaughter Hadley was three years old when she suddenly started limping in pain and was unable to bear weight on her right leg. Forty-eight hours and three medical appointments later, her bloodwork showed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). It was a nightmare that came out of nowhere.
After months of being sick and being in and out of the hospital, doctors placed two adult-size chest tubes in Levi’s chest to clear his lungs of fluid. While placing the tubes, his surgeon found an orange-sized tumor in his lung. Hours later, he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) at just four years old.
I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2019 a week before my birthday. My mom took me to the doctor for a routine checkup because I was feeling tired, sleepy, and did not want to eat. That day I was rushed to the ER where I was admitted to Children's Hospital New Orleans. After running bloodwork, my parents were told I had cancer.
"This is just for now; I will get past this."