Tanner’s Fight Against Cancer

Tanner McConnell is the son of Richard and Mandy McConnell. Tanner is only 2 years old but he has recently been going through a hard journey. Below is a short summary of everything Tanner has been facing.

Earlier this year, Tanner, Mandy and his aunt were playing on the couch. Tanner was wrestling and being rough with his aunt just as his always does. This day something looked a little off. His aunt mentioned to Mandy that there were knots on the back of his neck. Mandy asked her mom if she had noticed the knots too. Everyone started to worry about those knots because Tanner did not seem to be sick. On 3/24 we took him to see his Pediatrician. It was stated that it was probably a viral infection and that it would need to run its course but if he spiked a fever or got worse he should return the next day. He went back and his ears were red but were not infected, blood work was ordered. After a few days Tanner did not get better so we took him back. The NP that saw him said that she really thought that it was viral but she would put him on a antibiotic if it would help to ease our mind. Tanner still did not get better. I took him back to the Ped again and this time they saw a different NP that said she felt like he needed to go to an ENT to be evaluated and she changed him to a different antibiotic. Finally he was seen by Dr Clemmons- an ENT at MUSC on 4/11. At that time he also tested positive for STREP. She changed his antibiotic and said for us to bring him back on 4/18 and they would recheck him. She told Mandy that if the swelling had not gone down, she would send him for a biopsy. The day after Easter we returned to see Dr. Clemmons-None of his test or bloodwork ever showed any signs of him being sick. Dr. Clemmons said that she wanted to send him to MUSC to get a biopsy done being his lymph nodes were still swollen. He was admitted that Monday and waited until he could get the biopsy done. On Tuesday they were able to get his biopsy & 24 hours later, Tanner was dx with Lymphoma. Friday they put in his port and did a spinal tap for fluid and a bone marrow biopsy and he started his first round of chemo for the Lymphoma. The spinal fluid came back clear. Later that evening it was confirmed that it was in his bone marrow and he is now receiving chemo for Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 

Tanner is diagnosed with T-ALL (T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) something that we are all still learning to accept. After 6 months of treatment, the next phase is to do a reinduction cycle of chemotherapy to get him into remission then a bone marrow transplant as a cure. Once the new bone marrow takes effect, he will no longer need anymore chemotherapy and will be cancer free.

Starting today, Tanner will be spending many days and nights at the hospital to continue his treatment. This means his parents will be spending many days there with him. Expenses begin to add up quickly and there’s little time to worry about finances. I’m hoping this Go Fund Me will help ease any burden that Mandy, Richard, or any of the family may have while staying and/or commuting back and forth to MUSC. 100% of what is raised is being donated to Tanner and his family. If you can, help make this journey a little easier for his family by donating. Please, continue to keep this sweet boy and his family in your prayers. We’re waiting and looking for the day that Tanner is cancer free!