The Life of Leo, a Battle with Neuroblastoma!

Hello, my name is Leo Anthony Ray Hopper and on 05/13/2024, I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. That is also the same day I turned 10 months old and my first tooth came in. Here is my story, The Life of Leo!

My life started with a fight as I shared mommy’s placenta with a benign tumor, which caused me to be undersized. I was born 07/13/2023 to my mommy Jennifer Rego and my daddy Will Hopper. I was only 5lbs 14oz and 18 and 3/4 inches long. Due to human error with my weight calculation (by hospital staff) I didn’t get proper tests and went 24 hours with low blood sugar and ended up in the NICU for 7 days. I finally got to go home and be with my mom, dad, brother and 2 dogs! Things were amazing for 9 and a half months. Then on 05/3/2024 we went to dinner as a family, came home and daddy was putting me to sleep, rubbing my belly and found a lump. Mommy took me to the ER the next day and the Dr confirmed there was a mass in my belly and we were transferred to Dell Children’s Medical Center. The Doctors ran several tests and moved us to the Oncology department where they broke the news that I have Cancer. They needed to do more testing to confirm but their suspicion was Neuroblastoma. They found a mass on my Adrenal Gland, multiple in my Liver, multiple vertebrae, my hip and bone marrow. On 05/09/2024 I had a biopsy done of the main mass to confirm the diagnosis. After the biopsy I got a fever and was in extreme pain so mommy and daddy rushed me to the hospital again and I had to stay a night in the Pediatric ICU. I was then scheduled for surgery to get a chemo port in my chest and other tests to confirm the severity of my Neuroblastoma. My port was implanted on 05/17/2024 and I started my first round of Chemo on 05/18/2024. Treatment is going to be a long road ahead for me and a lot of medical bills for my parents. Insurance covers only a part of my treatment plan.

Please help my family with anything you can from donations, toys, supplies, gift cards, to simply just keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

My story is far from finished, I was born a fighter and will continue to be until I beat this cancer!

My family will continue to post updates about my journey.

Thank you