Support Kevin Wong's Fight Against Leukemia (AML)

On September 29th, after a month-long work trip to the jungles of Thailand, my dad returned home, bringing stories and gifts for our family—unaware that he was about to begin a life-changing journey. Two days later, on the morning of October 1st, while my mom was at work, she received a call from my dad. He had passed out while making breakfast and woke up on the kitchen floor, the stove still on, and his loyal labs, Patriot and America, licking his face to wake him. Alarmed, I asked my wife, Chelsey, who works from home and just five minutes away, to check on him. He assured her it was nothing—just jet lag or dehydration—but by 5:30 PM, he felt faint again and decided to go to the ER. My brother, Erik, rushed to meet us at the hospital, and we anxiously awaited answers. Later that evening, the staff informed us that our dad would need to be transferred to Fairfax INOVA for further evaluation. I stayed by his side that night, unaware that what we initially thought was a minor health scare was about to turn into something far more devastating.

By October 2nd, around 6 AM, he was transferred to Fairfax, and I returned home to rest while my mom went to meet him. At 8 AM, my wife woke me up, urging me to get ready and go to the hospital to meet my mom and brother. I was exhausted and confused, reluctant to leave the comfort of my bed. Sensing something was wrong, I asked her to tell me, and I will never forget the weight of that moment when she sat beside me and broke the news. I was overwhelmed with disbelief and many emotions. I quickly pulled myself together and rushed to the hospital to meet my family. Our dad, the strong, vibrant rock of our family, had been diagnosed with cancer. On the afternoon of October 2nd, the doctors confirmed their suspicions: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive cancer. The next morning, October 3rd, the Oncology team presented a treatment plan and informed us that chemotherapy would begin on October 4th. They also let us know that dad would need to stay in the hospital for about a month. At that point, my mom, brother, and I were in complete shock, trying to process everything while our dad underwent constant testing from various doctors and specialists.

For the next few weeks, my family rotated staying with our dad to ensure he was never alone. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to visit—your presence lifted his spirits. We were truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, with friends traveling from across the country, and some even making 20+ hour journeys to see our dad. We are deeply grateful for the kind messages, gifts, prayers, and positivity you’ve sent our family. We also want to thank everyone who shared their personal stories and adventures with our dad—these are memories we will cherish forever. A special thank you to Tom and Kassie for taking care of our dad’s dogs, Patriot and America - your support allowed us to stay by his side.

Throughout the grueling month of chemotherapy, our dad tackled it with humor and positivity. As he underwent round after round of treatment, he became the favorite patient of every nurse, gifting them handmade paracord survival bracelets. We decorated his room for Halloween and brought candy and snacks for the nurses, quickly earning him the title of MVP (Most Valuable Patient). His bravery gave us hope and reminded us to find joy even in the darkest moments. On October 25th, after nearly a month in the hospital, our dad was able to return home to his beloved dogs. However, his battle is far from over. To beat this cancer, he will need to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) in Baltimore. This means weeks of preparation, more chemotherapy to bring him into remission, and then relocating to Baltimore for the procedure. I have been identified as a 95% compatible bone marrow donor, and after the transplant, my dad’s immune system will be rebuilt using my bone marrow. During this fragile time, we will need to stay within 30 minutes of JHH for the next three months, as the process involves daily evaluations and treatments while his immune system is extremely vulnerable.

As a family, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to see our dad through this journey. My family and I have been by his side every step of the way. But the road ahead is steep. We are seeking support to cover the costs of medical bills, travel, temporary housing near JHH, and basic living expenses. This will help us provide our dad with a safe, supportive environment during his recovery, surrounded by family and his beloved dogs. Your support will allow us to give our dad the care, stability, and love he needs to keep fighting.

Our dad has always been the strongest and most selfless person we know, and now it’s our turn to be strong for him. Whether it’s a donation, a share, or simply taking the time to read his story, your kindness means the world to us. Together, we can help him through this battle and bring him closer to the life he deserves. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Please consider donating and sharing this page with your network to help us reach as many kind hearts as possible. Together, we can help our dad beat AML and look forward to brighter days.