At age 2 1/2, Miles, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was treated for 3.5 years with chemotherapy and other medications. On July 31 of this year Miles, and a large number of family and friends gathered at St. Louis Children's Hospital for a bell ringing ceremony. We were there to celebrate the completion of his chemo treatments and to rejoice in the fact that all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared (complete remission).  It was a spectacularly joyful event.

On Friday, September 13th, Miles returned to Children's Hospital due to high fever. Blood work and a bone marrow biopsy found that he had relapsed. 

Soon after the diagnosis Miles began phase one of "reinduction therapy" which involves chemotherapy via IV and other medication. He will remain hospitalized at Children's for this initial 29 day aggressive procedure. The goal of phase one is to achieve complete remission.

At this point we hope and pray that the 29 day reinduction therapy yields a strong response. If the response is weak his treatment plan will shift from a patient with low risk to one of high risk. This would likely involve a bone marrow transplant. A low risk approach to treatment in stage 2 will reflect maintenance therapy with more intense chemo for a long duration-up to several years. That routine involves daily doses of oral chemo, and monthly trips to Children's for IV chemo. 

I created this fund to help my niece, Tricia, and her family with some of the financial burden.  Tricia is in the hospital with Miles and not working and unsure when she will be able to return.  They are also still paying on previous hospital bills from his initial diagnosis.  Any donation is appreciated.