Marlon battles Leukaemia for a second time

My name is Esmaralda and I have known Marlon since he was a toddler. He has been friends with my boys for over a decade. Always curious, adventures, kind hearted, silly and full of life.

At the age of 10, life came to a screetching halt.

He was tired, sore and sick.. then came the answer, Phillidelphia Leukaemia.

He battled hard and went into remission.

Now he is a teenager and as Shera said:

"Anytime anyone has asked me, ‘How’s your son doing?’. I responded that he was a healthy, normal, teenage boy.

Healthy, vibrant, strong, active, with an expected dose of attitude and rebellion mixed in."

Now Marlon is 15, and again he started feeling tried, he had lumps around his neck and they thought it was mono, but when that came back negative, they went to McMaster, where they received the dreaded news....the Leukeamia is back.

Here is Shera's words as she recounts it:

When they first mentioned the word 'blasts in the blood, I went into shock. Recurrence of leukemia? No. No

Walking and talking were challenging. Teeth chattering. Body shakes. And denial. It can't be true.

Marlon cried and cried. So long jui jitsu. So long badminton. So long school. So much for life as he knows it.

I just can't believe it. It really has to be a mistake. When they mentioned the name of chemo drugs my system freaked out. PTSD. No this just can't be happening. The sounds, the memories, the emotions.

No just no. NO

Now we are both settling down. Dealing with things as they come

Shera is the primary care giver and the sole breadwinner of the family. They recommend that she does not work as this will take all her time and energy to care for Marlon. When he does get discharged it will be a lot of back and forth as they deal with chemo again and the effects that the chemo will have on his body.

They are also testing his bone marrow and hoping to find a match for a transplant.

Please consdier helping a family in need as they deal with Leukaemia for a second time around.