Noah The Superhero-now 14!

Noah is now 14 years old. He has been battling Severe Aplastic Anemia since diagnosed when he was 9. He has struggled through 2 failed bone marrow transplants. The first in 2018, which caused him to spend his 10th birthday in the hospital. He spent a total of 117 days away from home at that time. The second in March of 2020, 6 months after we lost our home to wildfire. 126 days from family and friends at that time. Noah has 8 siblings and one Neice. Four older Sisters, one younger Sister, and two younger Brothers. In early 2023, his SAA was morphed into Myelodysplastic syndrome. MDS is a bone marrow disease that unbrellas numerous "precancers".

In spring of 2023 he was flown to Doernbecher Children's Hospital with kidney failure and pneumonia. It was feared that he would need to start dialysis. Through the grace of God, he was able to be treated swiftly, and his kidney function started working again. He also had his port-a-cath replaced around this time, due to a crack discovered internally.

In mid August, we went camping on a Friday to get away from the smoke of the nearby forest fires. He had his first day of high-school (9th grade) on Monday. We went to his scheduled weekly appointment with his haemopatic/oncology team Tuesday morning. It was discovered by x-ray that he had massive pleural effusions in his right chest cavity. Essentially his right lung had collapsed. He was again flown to Doernbecher, this time for a chest tube placement. 350 miles from home. Upon arrival, he had an MRI and CT Scan. A mass was discovered in his chest in front of his heart and lungs. Due to the location of the mass, he required to remain awake for both the chest tube placement, as well as a bone marrow biopsy. A scary and emotional situation for him. He has had numerous biopsy and procedures over these last five years, but always under sedation and generally closer to home. Two days after these procedures, we learned that the mass is T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This is unfortunately secondary to his MDS, which still remains.

One year ago, Noah was facing his 3rd bone marrow transplant. He had a mental breakdown, with suicide attempts and admittance to a psychiatric hospital for a short time. Through the engagement of intensive mental health therapy, 5 days a week, 3 times a day, prayer and lifestyle changes, and emotional support from family and friends, he has been overcoming a dark lonely place he believed he wouldn't escape.

Here we are now. With things again becoming heartbreaking and devastating. Yet we feel light at the end. Even though there are moments, even days of grief and emotion. Noah is a fighter.

His current treatment plan for the T-ALL has a 2 year time-line of chemotherapy, amongst other things. Again, this is a secondary situation to his MDS, which could very well result in other cancers.

As perhaps many of you know, cancer treatment is not a simple, cheaply acquired process. It will require more medical expenses, more traveling, more dietary changes, more adjustments for Noah's livelihood. To which he rightfully feels there have been more than enough.

On behalf of my Son Noah, thank you all for your supports, in all manner.