Help Henry Fight Leukemia at Age 5

Hello, my name is Maria Taylor. I am Henry’s mom. In Nov. 24, Henry was taken to the hospital for what we thought was strep throat. He was running a fever, had a bad cough, and was vomiting. After some testing in our local ER, all tests came back negative for COVID, strep throat, and flu. However, his blood results were abnormal, especially his liver enzymes. His blood culture tested positive. Our local ER called the nearest children’s hospital where they recommended transporting him there ASAP. They took us in the ambulance to the children’s hospital. He was hospitalized for 5 days for croup; however, they did not have any answers for the liver enzymes and abnormality with his white blood cells. We were referred to hematology. At his hematology appointment, multiple blood tests were run, and they could not find an answer. The blood test came back for leukemia; however, the hematologist suggested a bone marrow biopsy to make sure. At his bone marrow biopsy appointment on Dec 9, they told us they were just going to go ahead and admit him in order to start getting answers ASAP as his liver enzyme numbers kept being elevated. While admitted, he had multiple tests like a liver biopsy, MRI, and many blood draws. On Dec 16th, the bone marrow biopsy results were finalized and Henry was diagnosed with high-risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia & autoimmune hepatitis just a few weeks after he turned 5 years old. This kind of cancer affects the blood cells in the bone marrow. He had a procedure to put a central line to start chemotherapy treatment. He was released late on Christmas Day. A week later, he had another bone marrow biopsy before he started the first cycle of a vigorous, strong chemotherapy treatment on Jan 23rd. We are currently inpatient, still waiting for blood counts to increase. Due to his subtype being high risk, he would need a Bone Marrow Transplant. He has a skin biopsy for genetic testing in preparation for a BMT. After he achieves remission (0% cancer found in his bone marrow), he would get his transplant. But he has various testing before the transplant is done. All of this has tremendously affected us as his parents but also his brother Brantley. I dropped everything and have been staying with him at the hospital. Dad comes and helps me on the weekend while still maintaining his full-time status in college and handling everything at home, Daisy, and Brantley. We are facing the treatment to go for over a year. We appreciate everyone’s prayers. And it warms our hearts to know that he has a whole army supporting him. Henry’s strength and resilience have been a constant source of inspiration to everyone who knows him. We are so grateful for all of you who are walking alongside us during this time. Your love, encouragement, and prayers have been a lifeline, and we truly cannot do this without you. Your contribution and prayers would be use for transportation, lodging , food , bills etc. giving us the time to focus on what’s the most important, Henry.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, compassion, and for helping Henry and my family through this.

https://linktr.ee/MariaT9325