Hello everyone. If you're reading this, thank you for caring and thinking of sweet Abel! The night after Thanksgiving, Abel started getting sick. He was vomiting, had diarrhea, high fevers, wouldn't eat and just wanted to sleep all day. After 3 weeks of being told it's a virus, on December 21st in the middle of the night- Abel woke us up vomiting and was coming in and out of consciousness. We hopped in the car and went to Bloomington. They ran some lab work and determined Abel's hemoglobin levels were below a 2. For his age we were told it should be around a 12. His white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets were also dangerously low. They started a blood transfusion right away while they arranged a room for him at OSF St. Francis on the Pediatric ICU. When we got there, they re-ran the lab work and a Doctor was in shortly after to give us the news no parent wants to hear - "We believe your son may have Leukemia". At that time, his body wasn't strong enough to do a bone marrow biopsy.

On Thursday, the blood transfusions continued and he fought a high fever. On Friday morning, his hemoglobin levels finally raised just enough to get the bone marrow biopsy. They tested the fluid from the bone marrow first and that came back with 4% Leukemia cells but to diagnosis it soley on this test it would be 25%. At this time we were told it could also be Aplastic Anemia but they were going to continue running more tests on the small part of Bone Marrow that they got. Abel slept the majority of the day after his Biopsy. Friday evening into Saturday morning, we noticed his stomach was very bloated. The team decided to do an ultrasound and found his spleen was very enlarged. We spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Monday the 26th with little new information because of the weekend and Holiday.

Tuesday December 27th- The Doctor came in and spoke with us. We were told many signs are leading towards Leukemia but that there were a few more things they wanted to test and that would take until Wednesday. She began talking to us about a clinical trial in Peoria or heading to Memphis to start treatment at St. Jude. Our world has been turned upside down. Abel is such a sweet and happy little boy. He has been so strong and has went through so much since he started getting sick.

At this time, we ask for all your prayers and good thoughts. Please pray that our sweet Abel doesn't have Leukemia and that his body can heal, pray for his medical team and pray for our family to have strength. We love him so much. He's such a bright and happy little soul. Today- Wednesday 28th, we should find out a 100% diagnosis and hopefully get a plan ready (whatever that may be).

Many people have reached out asking what they can do to help. Kyle has been working hard at Hellers in Pontiac and he loves it but he hasn't been there long enough for any paid time off at all. So- besides praying hard for Abel, if you feel it in your heart to donate- we know that they would forever be grateful. We plan to get a gofundme site up and they already have a venmo set up and linked to their bank account. The username for the venmo is @Taija-Hetherington.

We will update as we get new information. Thank you for being here on this journey with us.