Support TJ's Battle Against Leukemia

TJ was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on 1/23/25 at just 3 years old. This is his story and how you can help TJ and our family as we help our son get through this 3-year-long treatment.

The diagnosis:

I thought TJ had low iron (red circles around his eyes, loss of appetite, pain in legs) since he suffered from this as a baby. After a visit to urgent care where he was diagnosed with an ear infection and sent home, I made an appointment with his doctor at Children’s because I wasn’t satisfied and wanted blood tests. His doctor agreed to do a blood panel to see what was going on and called me that same day at 10:30 pm and told me to pack a bag and immediately bring my son to the hospital because they suspect he has cancer. TJ and our entire family’s life changed in that moment (and I probably got a million dollars in camera tickets in DC that evening rushing him to the hospital). We didn’t know TJ wouldn’t leave the hospital that evening and immediately began a grueling 30-day intense chemotherapy treatment, also known as Induction therapy.

Treatment and Path Forward

TJ is being treated at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Dad hasn’t worked full-time since TJ was diagnosed, and my mother has sacrificed her time and personal life to come help us care for TJ and his 8-year-old sister Emelyn so I can continue working.

TJ has undergone a port surgery, multiple lumbar punctures with chemo, steroids, IV chemo, pill chemos, has had two rounds of Blinatumomab where he was hooked up to a pump for 28-day cycles 24/7 (worst two months of our lives with an active toddler!), and is currently in a two-month phase of the treatment that is just, if not more intense, than the first 30 days. In fact, TJ’s ANC count was so low this week he couldn’t even start his next round of chemo. His beautiful curly hair has finally started to fall out (something you cannot prepare yourself for as a parent no matter how many times your doctors tell you it is going to happen—it is a daily, visual reminder that your baby is sick), and of course, given all he has gone through, he has been unable to attend school.

Next Steps

We haven’t wanted to ask for help because we have just been taking all of this in ourselves, but we are at a point in this journey where we need our community support. I’m constantly worried about my job as a DC government contractor, and I haven’t really had to look at the bills yet (thanks to the super horrible company called Accolade that messed up ALL of TJ’s claims, causing them all to be denied and ensuring we are SO confused on what we owe and when!). What I do know is we have a lot of co-pays and co-insurance payments that I need to figure out and pay because it’s so hard to field calls about bills, work, be there for my son and daughter, do the day-to-day things, and try not to drown in the process. Since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I thought what better time to reach out to our community for help.

How You Can Help

If you donate to TJ’s GoFundMe, all proceeds will go to his medical bills and cost of living for our family so we can ensure one parent can remain as a caretaker for our son.

I tend to be verbose, so if you read this far, thank you. This diagnosis has been incredibly difficult for TJ and our entire family. Cancer sucks!! Thank you to all of our family and friends for your support.