HELP Jayce & the Bender-Palmer Family fight cancer

Hi, my name is Anna Strickland, my Daughter Alisha Bender and Jerome Palmer NEED YOUR HELP for their son,

my (Grandson ) Jayce. My grandson Jayce was recently diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive form of leukemia. We are raising awareness and funds to help support the Bender-Palmer family during this difficult time. While the health and well-being of Jayce is the only thing on my daughter and son-in-law's mind, I know the financial burden will eventually hit and we want to be as pro-active as we can. We are asking anyone who has the means to donate (even the smallest amount) to please do so to help my family who would do the same for anyone else. Any amount would be greatly appreciated!

Jayce's story:

In February of this year (2023), Jayce was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (Juvenile RA). He had been in pain with random swelling for a couple of months. Alisha knew something was wrong. His doctors referred us to Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, where they diagnosed him with Junior RA. He was put on medications, given shots, and we were on our way.

Jayce progressively got better and was starting to be himself again and was finally able to join his baseball team on the field. Jayce is a remarkable ball player! He was getting the pain relief and feeling good....until he wasn't.

On May 14th (Mother's Day) he started to feel unwell and from there, they were in a quick spiral.

He started running a fever that we couldn’t break, he was cold, he had mouth sores, he was weak, and he was losing weight...all in 4 days. Saturday (5/20/23) morning we went to the ER, and within 2 hours they advised us something was wrong (yet they didn’t know what) and we were looking at a lengthy stay.

Monday (May 22, 2023) Jayce received a blood transfusion and a bone marrow biopsy was done.

Tuesday (May 23, 2023) Bronson and Helen Devos came back inconclusive on the biopsy. The results were sent to Mayo Clinic for review.

Wednesday (May 24, 2023) they were released from the hospital and handed a book; How to Cope When Your Child Has Cancer.

Our hearts sank & shattered. This wasn't happening to us, this can’t be true! He is such a great human. He shouldn't be dealt such a shitty hand.

Fast forward to June 5th... we get a call with good news, Devos believes it may have been a reaction to his Humeria (RA meds) combined with a virus and we might be in the clear. GREAT!!

We will take a fluke over cancer any day!

June 13, 2023, Bronson calls, Mayo results are back… Jayce has a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. A PET scan is ordered and done the next day June 14th.

June 15th the results are in...barely anything shows on the scan (thankful it didn’t light up like a Christmas tree, but still shows spots). They need another bone marrow biopsy. Good news....we have a 50/50 shot it might be something else.

His case was sent to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas (one of the few places that have dealt with this rare cancer) and they said the cancer Mayo diagnosed him with is so rare, it can't be that.

June 19, 2023, we do another bone marrow biopsy. They tell us to stay positive. We are sending the biopsy directly to MD Anderson and Mayo Clinic and should have the results back in about a week.

The waiting game continues…

The ever-dreaded call came in, Mayo doubled down, Jayce has the rare leukemia, Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN). This leukemia is so rare that 29 kids in 13 years have had....2 kids a year, why is ours one of them???? This can't be real.

MD Anderson has designed the treatment plan.

Jayce received his port implant and his first round of chemo yesterday (June 29, 2023).

These next 8 months (or so) will be some of the most trying times of the Bender-Palmer's lives. But, with a great support system and generous donors, they can at least survive this.

Jayce is going to kick this cancer's ass!

When tragedy strikes like this, you see who's got your back. Let’s rally behind the Bender-Palmer family to help lessen the financial burden and show them they are not in this fight alone! #JAYCESTRONG

P.S. Jayce never had Juvenile RA, it was this cancer the entire time.

P.S.S. WMU School of Medicine talked to Jayce and the family yesterday and due to the rarity of this case, they will be doing a case study and it will be going into their medical books (they don't know if they will ever see this type of case again).