OUR HEROES
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Name: Jackson A.
Age: 12
Diagnosis: Leukemia
My son, Jackson (12 years old) was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October 2022. After almost 2 months of trying to figure out why he was having emotional outbursts at school, waking with cramps that we thought to be growing pains and 3 different changes with ADHD medication- I took him to the ER. Something was wrong.
When we arrived they were able to get him hooked up to an IV. What started with what looked like appendicitis symptoms- slowly turned into the ER Nurse Practitioner letting me know that they found a lymphoma in his chest. Jackson needed to be airlifted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to get to the bottom of it.
Two days later, the team at the hospital was able to officially diagnose Jackson with T-Cell ALL. We spent 10 days in the hospital and learned my insurance didn’t contact with the hospital we began treatment with. We were transferred to another hospital for care. Almost three and a half years after that scary October day- Jackson rang the bell to signify the end of his chemotherapy treatment. We have a few more years of monitoring and then he will officially be cured!
If you’re in the thick of it- do your best to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Take it as slow as you need to (one breath, one minute, one hour, one day, etc.). But don’t give up!
Age: 3
Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma
She was diagnosed with High Risk Neuroblastoma in August of 2024 at the age of 3 years old. She was diagnosed due to a persistent bump on her forehead that was finally scanned and they found a metastatic tumor there that originated from a tumor in the adrenal glands.
Age: 3
Diagnosis: Wilm’s Tumor
October 2023 started off as an early morning emergency visit for my 3 year old from a bloated stomach to being transferred to CHLA and being diagnosed with Stage 5 Wilms Tumor (15x12cm mass) rare kidney disease in children ages 2-5 of Bilateral Kidneys, Chronic Kidney Disease. Left radical nephrectomy with partial right nephrectomy. It also spread with lesions within his liver and lungs. Doctors said they’ve never seen this cancer in this form / visual. After 2 surgeries, radiation, chemo and the loss of 9 baby teeth from the chemo with doctors were amazed at how fast and hard his body fought De’Angelo has now been in remission for 2 years and thriving 2026.
Age: 7
Diagnosis: Retinoblastoma
Harper’s dad noticed an odd glow from one of her eyes. Her pediatrician sent her to CHLA and she was diagnosed at 8 months old. After six months of chemo, she has been in remission for almost seven years. She loves playing soccer, listening to music, spending summers at the beach and camping.