Ozzy's Leukemia Battle & Hospital Stays

*Update posted below on 6/15/25*

This is Jordan, Ozzy’s auntie. I can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since our last update here. I haven’t shared all the good news, and unfortunately now I’m posting to share some not so good news. I’m going to do the best I can to update here, but I am definitely missing large parts of the story in an effort to not bother Jess and Bryce for every detail. Jess, Bryce, Ozzy, and Banks are all at the hospital in the PICU with a very sick Ozzy girl. Ozzy has been battling a cold for some time which we now know is rhinovirus as well as a blood infection likely in her port. Ozzy’s oxygen has been dropping, which required a stay in hospital beginning on 6/8/25. As of today, 6/15/25, they are all still there with Ozzy. Jess shared a post updating on Ozzy, which I will copy and paste below. Since then, Ozzy has been intubated and on sedation drugs to keep her kind of out of it as she gets feisty and scared when she wakes. The doctors are still trying to figure out what is going on as her oxygen continues to fluctuate and even dropping to scary low levels. All her chemo treatments have stopped in order to give her body a chance to heal.

Jess’s post:

This was the original update for Ozzy on Sunday evening for those who have asked and didn’t see.

Things have progressed and there’s been a ton of updates but we’re still in the PICU at Fairview Masonic downtown Minneapolis and waiting for her Oxygen to be better on her own from rhinovirus which has really taking her out with a horrible cough and ability to breath, and for the team to figure out where the bacterial infection is hanging out in her blood. They believe it could be attached to her port inside her little chest, which would mean surgery to replace it. Two completely separate illnesses both taking her down hard with having a weakened immune system from chemo.

She’s had to get a feeding tube placed because they aren’t allowing her to eat or drink anything while on CPAP. It’s so incredibly sad because she’s asks for food all day long with sign language she learned recently, and we have to say no she doesn’t understand why. She is trying to be so tough and good/happy but she’s so exhausted.

We’ve had multiple X-rays, her port accessed from it being in wrong 4 times, 6 bandage replacements over it, tubes put down her nose to suction mucous multiple times, insane amount of cannula tape replacements that hurt and make us hold her down, upset tummy, hunger pains because feeding tubes don’t actually go to your belly, so many people messing with her and making her more uncomfortable and cry, especially when she finally gets rest which is so irritating. She’s working so hard to breathe and is up all hours of the night.

The plan for now is to treat the pneumonia they believe they see on her right side, keep oxygen up but slowly ween when able down to a place where consuming food is safe without worry of aspiration, and to figure out where the bacterial infection is hanging out in her blood. But all of this is made more difficult because she’s so over all of it and is tired from being on this dang hospital bed.

*Update posted below on 7/5/24*

I'm Jordan, Jess's older sister and Ozzy's auntie. I want to do whatever I can to help their journey through leukemia be just a little bit easier. Jess, Bryce, and Ozzy are such a strong family, but everyone could use support now and again and I think this is the perfect time to show them we all love and support them through this challenging fight. I have 2 children of my own, and can't imagine what they are all going through right now. There is no worse feeling than knowing your baby is sick. Let's show them that we are here for them!

Update 7/5/24 from Jess:

The oncology team with Ozzy reassures us that she’s been doing well handling the chemo, steroid and everything so far. Her labs have been stable enough to not need a blood transfusion for about a week other than this morning to get her platelets up before her second spinal tap. She has some fussy and more moody moments, but she still is smiling and giggling with us each day too.

Ozzy went under anesthesia this morning for another spinal tap in order to make sure the cancer still isn’t in her spine and brain fluid. She went under with some fussing this time -last time we had the whole team singing itsy bitsy spider as she giggled to sleep. The little bit of crying this time was both because she’s not easily tricked and keeps her eyes on everything happening, as well as being hungry since she has to fast for 8 hours before each anesthesia procedure which is tough for a little babe who often wakes at 5am. She gets chemo injected into her spinal fluid while she’s under, as well as another dose later today into her port. Since she hates getting her port needle and dressing replaced (which will happen weekly while here), we also got that done while she was under so that we will get another 7 days before the next change.

Ozzy shouldn’t need to go under anesthesia again until July 25th, for her 3rd spinal tap and 2nd bone marrow biopsy to check on her cancer status in her blood. Until then, we will be doing steroids twice a day and chemo once a week. The hardest part about the chemo is that she can’t nurse for 24 hours afterwards, and that’s the longest she’s ever had to go. We may be needing to force ween her, but it’s been a big comfort for her during this time.

Her steroids always get her jacked up and make her giggle and happy yell lots :) because of this, we do them around 6am and 6pm each day as to not mess with her sleep schedule too much. Having the steroids typically has been helping her get an appetite as well, which is great because our amazing little eater hasn’t wanted to have much since being here. She will put away some cottage cheese like no other though haha. They warned us that the chemo may change her taste or likes, and we’ve found that to be true, but she is eating much better now than last week.

We appreciate all your support and prayers so much!! Ozzy is still getting all her outpatient care while we are here, including seeing PT, OT and Speech. They offer music therapy and occasional weekly activities which helps time pass and keeps Ozzy a little less antsy about being in our room so often. We’ll do our best to keep everyone updated throughout Ozzy’s journey and truly are so touched by how many have offered and given help for our family.

Ozzy's story (written by Jess 6/29/24):

Ozzy had been a little extra tired for about a week. When she woke up last Sunday morning 6/23/24, she was so exhausted and went limp on me for a few seconds, so we headed to urgent care to get her checked out. After 2 hours there, we were transferred to the Children’s Masonic ER for testing. By that evening sweet Oz had to get two IVs, an X-ray, blood drawn, multiple vital checks and more... we found out it was very likely she has leukemia.

We had blood work come back positive for the cancer of her blood on Tuesday 6/25/24, and on Wednesday 6/26/24 it was confirmed with a bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap that she has B-cell ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The most common and treatable kind. She got chemo while under, and more Thursday 6/27/24 along with many other drugs and blood transfusions to help with all the things. Thankfully they placed a port in her chest that will stay for a few years to receive most medications now.

She’s been through so much this first week, but we’re so grateful she’s been able to start treatment right away. She’s doing well on her chemo and steroids so far. She’s still giggling and waving to all the staff and making everyone smile here when she’s up for it , but she definitely wants to get out of the room whenever possible (& points at her wagon often).

We’re still taking time to process, and just spending time keeping Ozzy comfortable and happy through the hectic days. We’ll be staying at the Children’s Masonic hospital for the next couple months for her more intense induction stage, then we will have 2-3 years of traveling back here for treatment a couple times a week to make sure her leukemia is gone. It’s a long journey, but we see Ozzy getting more brave everyday. I’m so sad for what she has to go through without understanding, miss out on, that her beautiful hair will soon be gone, and that she won’t feel herself for a while.. it’s unfair. But our baby girl has always been a little fighter and we know she’s going to kick cancers butt.