One day in October, Miguel was complaining he was bit by a spider on his neck and he just happened to have a red area there, it simulated an insect bite. As a mother, I gave him some Benadryl for itching and put medication on it. A couple of days went by and did not go away. The red area seemed to clear but not the bump. We went to our walk-in doctor’s office where we were given medication under the assumption that it may be a swollen lymph node. They asked that we follow up with his primary doctor.
Miguel just happened to have a well check-up in the month of October. When we saw the doctor, he also reassured me it may not be much to worry about. He had been healthy and did not complain of anything but he would like him to see a specialist.
We went to see the specialist the next month. He didnt know what it could be and wanted Miguel to get it removed. On November 30th, he had surgery right before he got his drivers license.
On December 7th, my life fell apart and my heart broke to hear my son had cancer! We went to see the oncologist and he said it may be a stage four and contained around the neck. Miguel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
When we got the result and saw that he was a stage 4, he has a mass growing on his heart and into his lungs, I could not have been more torn and broken. It left me breathless.
We were told he would have six to eight months of treatment or more. Miguel told the doctor he will not be in treatment for that long- he planned for it to be shorter.
By the 3rd cycle, my son was almost clear of cancer and beat it in 4 months! The positive energy and the smile this young man had is what made all this happen. He was the strength of our family. We became a stronger family because of him.
We did not quit we were each others support! We have learned to love, to cherish life, and each other so much more! Thank you for giving the opportunity to share my sons story.
Chloe’s smile lights up a room and always has. She is a dancer. She loves water sports and spending time at Kelly lake. Family is number one in her life.
In May of 2018, Chloe had a pain in her rib for a few months. She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the bone in her rib. She went through twelve weeks of chemo and is now in remission. We do worry about the lifelong effect of chemo.
Cancer made us worry more but we also hug each other more often and spend more time together. We reflect on how lucky we are now.
Alana is such a diva little girl with LOTS of personality, loves glitzy glam.
In 2018 Alana had complained about having a pain in her back which prompted me to make an appointment with her pediatrician, after an X-ray and labs we were sent to have an MRI performed. We received the devastating results just hours after having the MRI that Alana had cancer.
We were sent to our local children hospital where a biopsy was performed, sent to pathology to reveal the type of cancer, and 5 days later we were told that Alana had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We would be sent to St.Jude Children’s hospital for treatment.
Her treatment plan consisted of 6 rounds of chemotherapy. With chemotherapy comes lots of side effects. Most of her days were filled with nausea, mouth sores, joint stiffness, vomiting, severe exhaustion, hair loss, and a compromised immune system.
Alana’s diagnosis was devastating for our family. Honestly, I can’t remember what life was like before July of 2018. The difficult part was having to explain to my 6-year-old that this illness required more than a band-aid and kiss that only mommy could give to make it ALL better and go away.
Alana is doing well thanks to all of the support from our family and friends, especially our new family at St.Jude.
On May 13, 2017 Winter was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system. She was only fifteen years old and absolutely terrified. It had been years of unanswered questions, frequent back pain, common colds that lasted and appeared way more than normal, and so much more. Years summed up with truancy meetings, doctor visits every other week, and fear of the unknown. The diagnosis of cancer felt like a new beginning in the most hurtful way.
Chemotherapy was the most difficult things that she has ever been through. Her reaction to the medication was terrible. She was throwing up, had excruciating headaches, back pain, burns from her tongue all the way down to her stomach, and so much more. She spent nearly her entire treatment duration in the hospital.
Thankfully, she is now nearly two years cancer free. She fought through and won!
Haley is wonderful. She’s always smiling and telling jokes! She loves anything dog related.
In the summer of 2018, we noticed a small discoloring to her forehead that continued to grow and push out. She was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on July 31st, 2018.
Haley has been in aggressive chemo since diagnosis. She has had multiple hospitalizations and complications. Once aggressive treatment is done she will still have close to 2 years of maintenance therapy to complete. We struggle with finances due to treatment cost.
We live our life day to day- never knowing if it’s going to be a good or bad day or if you’ll end up admitted at the hospital.
Haley is my hero! She never looks at her illness as she won’t survive.
Jordon is athletic and loves anything with a ball. His favorite sports are basketball and golf.
In July of 2011, Jordon was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. In the time leading up to his diagnosis, Jordon was running a low grade fever and said he had a sore throat. The doctor said he did not have strep but she heard a heart murmur. She scheduled him to have an x ray and echo and those tests indicated that he had a mass in his chest. Jordon has undergone 8 months of chemotherapy and hospital stays and now has monthly immunotherapy treatments.
Jordon does have some limitations when it comes to applying for places to work but even though he is immunocompromised I think we have regained a fairly normal life.
