Support the White Family in Derrick's Leukemia Fight

This page is being created on behalf of Brendan and Valerie White, who learned on December 18, 2024, that their beautiful and otherwise perfectly healthy 16-month-old son Derrick had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

After several weeks with a swollen eye and countless visits to the pediatrician for cold symptoms, a sudden onset of lethargic behavior was the ‘final straw’. Valerie and Brendan, along with Derrick’s 4-year-old brother Holden, rushed him to the ER. There, they were given a preliminary diagnosis of pneumonia and anemia. They were promptly transferred to another hospital that was better equipped to care for their sweet son.

After further scans, they were heartbroken to discover that Derrick has leukemia; upon being admitted, he had a rare condition which caused masses of leukemia cells to form on his brain, pancreas, spleen, liver, and behind his eye. In addition, Derrick is considered “high risk” due to unfavorable genetics of the leukemia cells, meaning that he will require a stem cell transplant after his current chemotherapy regimen. Brendan, Valerie, and Holden have begun the screening process to determine who amongst them will be the most suitable donor.

As you can imagine, the White family is incurring significant medical expenses and can use your help. As of now, the inpatient treatment regimen for Derrick at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester, NY is expected to last at least another month with an additional 6-8 months of outpatient treatment, so there is a long road ahead. Thank you in advance for your support!