Support Dean’s fight against cancer! Battling Acute Leukemia

Dear Family, Friends, and Kind-hearted Strangers,

On March 24th, my family’s world changed in an instant. Just days before my 17-year-old son Dean’s 18th birthday, a trip to the ER for sudden flu-like symptoms and severe pain quickly turned into a life-altering journey. That same night, Dean was transferred from our local hospital to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children—two hours away from our home. Just two days later, after an overwhelming blur of blood tests, imaging scans, and a bone marrow biopsy, we were given the devastating news: Dean has B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)—an aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer.

A few days later, we learned that Dean is Philadelphia Chromosome Positive, a rare genetic mutation that makes his leukemia more aggressive and high-risk. This means he will need even more intensive treatment than the standard B-ALL protocol.

From the very beginning, Dean has shown nothing but courage. On March 28th—his 18th birthday, just four days after arriving at the hospital, he began treatment and received his first round of chemotherapy. While most teens are out celebrating this milestone, Dean faced it in a hospital bed with humor and determination, saying, “I’m ready to kick cancer’s ass.”

He spent 14 days at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, undergoing:

Dean was discharged from the hospital on April 7th and has since begun outpatient treatment, with his sixth chemotherapy infusion completed on April 11th. He has faced every step of this journey with bravery, humor, and unshakable spirit.

What Lies Ahead

Dean’s treatment journey is just beginning. He faces 6–8 months of aggressive outpatient and inpatient chemotherapy, followed by 2–3 years of maintenance chemotherapy to keep the cancer from returning.

This means we’ll be traveling at least once a week—sometimes multiple times—to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, a two-hour drive each way, for chemotherapy infusions, bloodwork, lumbar punctures, and more. This Friday, Dean will receive his next round of chemotherapy infusions, and next week he faces his third lumbar puncture with intrathecal chemotherapy injections and a second bone marrow biopsy.

How You Can Help

As Dean’s mom, I have been by his side every step of the way. I’m also a mother to two other children—Ben (20) and Lily (16). While I stayed with Dean in the hospital, Ben held down the fort at home, caring for Lily and our beloved pets, doing his best to keep things running smoothly. Our family is doing everything we can to support Dean’s fight, but the emotional and financial toll of leukemia treatment is immense.

My family is humbly asking for your help as we navigate this overwhelming and uncertain journey. With Dean’s caregiving as my full-time responsibility at this time, your support is more meaningful than ever.

Your donation will help cover:

Every contribution—no matter the size—truly means the world to us. If you feel called to give, please know that your support allows my family to focus all our energy on Dean’s healing, without the crushing weight of financial stress. And if you’re not in a place to give, simply sharing Dean’s story with your friends, family, or community is a powerful way to show support.

Dean has a long and difficult road ahead, but he’s not walking it alone. He has his family, his fierce determination, and—hopefully—you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Dean in this fight.

With love and gratitude,

Sara Tilton

(Dean’s Mom)