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Children

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children

From Cancer to Dancer

At eleven years old, Terrance’s world turned upside down. What started as fatigue and mysterious lumps in his neck led to a diagnosis no family wants to hear: leukemia. The news sent him rushing to the emergency room, marking the beginning of a journey that would test his resilience but, in the end, reveal his extraordinary spirit.

Throughout his treatment, Terrance showed his determination. After each spinal tap, he’d ask to return to school, unwilling to let cancer define his childhood. The hospital staff became like family, making his stays as comfortable as possible, while organizations like CURE provided welcome distractions with toys and games in boredom buster bags and meals during treatment.

But it was dance that transformed Terrance’s journey. Days before his discharge, he discovered Dance for Your Life, a group that would shape his future. Even during treatment, he threw himself into hip-hop dance, finding freedom of expression in movement that cancer couldn’t constrain. At fourteen, Terrance finally rang the bell signaling the end of his treatment.

Today, Terrance’s life is full of milestones that once seemed distant. A 2023 graduate of Langston Hughes High School, he’s become a professional dancer and choreographer. He bought his first car on New Year’s Day, a symbol of his independence and bright future ahead.

Looking back, Terrance remains grateful for every prayer and gesture of support that carried him through. His journey from hospital beds to dance stages reminds us that with faith, family, and determination, extraordinary transformations are possible.

Terrance today

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children, Precision Medicine, Research

Rowan’s Story: Joy, Strength, and Genetic Breakthroughs

In late 2021, eight-year-old Rowan arrived at the emergency room weakened by weeks of unexplained illness. Due to Covid-related restrictions, his father and brother waited at home while his mother sat with him, unaware that their lives would change forever. After testing, doctors found a golf ball-sized tumor in Rowan’s cerebellum, blocking the natural flow of spinal fluid through his brain.

What followed was a whirlwind of surgeries, treatments, and countless hours in hospital rooms. Through six weeks of daily proton radiation therapy and nine cycles of chemotherapy, Rowan powered through every side effect. Even during his first chemo infusion, he sat calmly eating Doritos as if it were just another ordinary day. His younger brother stood by his side, ready to play whenever Rowan had the energy. They often played with Legos, which helped rebuild his fine motor skills.

Between treatments, Rowan looked for every opportunity for joy. He conquered a rock-climbing wall, soared through an aerial obstacle course, and proved his tenacity by completing the third grade on time despite spending much of the year in treatment. When his port was finally removed in November 2022, his family felt like a new chapter was beginning.

But in October 2023, a second tumor appeared – a high-grade glioma caused by his previous radiation treatment. This time, the treatment path was guided by genetic sequencing thanks to CURE’s investment in the Precision Medicine Program. Through this testing, doctors discovered that Rowan had Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Most people have a pair of proteins that keep cells from growing abnormally and becoming cancerous. Because of LFS, Rowan’s body doesn’t make enough of these proteins, and cells can divide uncontrolled and form tumors.

Without the genetic sequencing, Rowan would have undergone rounds of harsh infusion chemotherapy. Instead, armed with the knowledge of his LFS, doctors opted for a more targeted approach with oral chemotherapy that reduced his risk for additional tumors. The genetic testing also revealed that Rowan had inherited LFS from his mother, Charlan, leading to important, life-long, monitoring protocols for both of them.

Rowan & Jacob Today

Rowan is eleven years old and writing a new chapter of his story. He is in middle school, plays the trombone, and continues to choose joy every day. Regular MRIs every three months keep careful watch, allowing doctors to catch and treat any potential issues in the early, more treatable phase. Made possible by genetic sequencing, this proactive approach gives Rowan and his family the power of knowledge and early intervention.

“We won’t put their heads in the sand but rather face each day armed with understanding and hope.” his mother, Charlan, said. “For Rowan’s younger brother Jacob, genetic testing brought relief because it confirmed he doesn’t carry the LFS gene.”

Rowan’s story illustrates the power of precision medicine and genetic sequencing in childhood cancer care. It’s about a boy who loves his family and friends, being in school, and trying many kinds of games and activities – and how scientific advancement helps him continue doing all these things. Through genetic testing and a determination to find joy in every moment, Rowan and his family continue their journey – not just surviving but truly living.

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children, Events, Family & Patient Support

A Life of Strength, Love, and Courage

Weighing in at 9 pounds, 10 ounces, Chrisean was big from the start. He had so many rolls that his family called him the “marshmallow baby.” As a child, he enjoyed dressing up in a suit and tie, especially to go to church. At the age of 13, he stood an imposing six feet tall and weighed 250 pounds. When he stopped eating, his mother, Machelle, knew something was wrong.

“He was complaining about body aches and pain everywhere,” Machelle said. “We went to the doctor several times and came home with different pain medicines. But no one could tell us what was wrong.”

One day, Chrisean called Machelle from school because his chest hurt badly. She took him to the children’s hospital, where the doctor pulled down his eyelid and noticed his skin was nearly white. When he ordered a blood test, the staff found a new problem – Chrisean was terrified of needles. He was so big that the nurses had to get two men and a security officer to hold him down to draw blood. The blood test revealed that Chrisean had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“When the doctor told us, I was confident that he would be alright,” Machelle said. “He had a game plan and said it was very treatable.”

During his hospital stays, Chrisean questioned everything. He researched every chemo he was to be given and asked questions of doctors, nurses, and anyone who provided care. A little more than a year into his three-year treatment, Chrisean developed a cough that turned into a fever. His breathing got progressively worse until his medical team decided he needed to be on a respirator. Things descended rapidly from that point. With his immune system depleted because of chemotherapy, Chrisean’s body was unable to fight off a virus.

“Chrisean called everyone in the family and asked them to come to the hospital,” Machelle said. “I think he understood that he was at the end. He got to say goodbye and tell us all he loved us before he passed.”

Chrisean passed on August 25, 2020.

“We met CURE in the hospital with meals, and CURE supported our family at Christmas,” Machelle shared. “But I didn’t know CURE would still be here for us after Chrisean died.”

Machelle has attended CURE’s Hope and Healing bereavement retreats and regularly enjoys gatherings with other bereaved mothers, as well as CURE’s Quiet Heroes luncheon.

“I just want to thank you. Hope and Healing has been a saving grace for me,” she said. “A lot of times, I didn’t want to exist in this world without my baby, and most people don’t know what it is like to lose a piece of your heart. It was a breath of fresh air being around other people who know this pain. I still need help and support, but I can help moms who are new to grief.”

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children, Precision Medicine, Research

It’s in the Genes

Ally has been through a lot in her eleven years. When she was two years old, she fell off a stool while playing with her brother. A large bruise appeared on her stomach almost immediately, and her parents took her to their local hospital. After blood work, they learned that Ally had B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “We were told that within days, she would have had uncontrollable bleeding without treatment,” said Ally’s mother, Amber. “Her body was working so hard to fight the cancer that her heart would have given out. It is hard to be glad for your child to fall, but that fall saved her life.”

Ally received her first dose of chemotherapy within 16 hours of diagnosis. Over the two years of treatment that followed, Ally struggled with almost every possible side effect. She suffered three life-threatening infections, temporarily lost the ability to walk, and struggled to rebuild her immune system after every round of chemo.

“We were given a bleak prospect of survival during her second fight with an infection,” shared Amber. “We prayed for a miracle and finally got one when her body started to respond to antibiotics.”

Her treatment finally ended on August 24, 2018, but her battle was far from over because her immune system did not recover as expected. Even years later, her doctors were concerned because she was still living with depleted immune function. In 2022, they decided to do genetic sequencing on Ally and her family to see if a disorder was causing her immune system deficiency. What the sequencing uncovered has lifelong implications for Ally and her family.

“My nephew was diagnosed with leukemia after Ally,” said Amber. “So I expected that if there was an inherited genetic trait linked to her cancer or her body’s response to treatment, it would be on my side. We found out that the opposite was true.”

Ally shares a genetic condition called Lynch syndrome with her father, Justin. This condition increases the risk of many kinds of cancer, including colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and other types. Knowing this will allow Justin and Ally to be monitored for early signs of cancer, giving treatment a greater chance of success. Ally sees a doctor with expertise in genetic conditions every year, and her parents are updated on new testing and protocols. Ally is doing great today. She is in her first year of middle school and enjoys competing in pageants. Her parents are grateful for her health and credit CURE’s investment in precision medicine as a big part of it.

“I have a friend who just went through breast cancer treatment, and her genetic testing cost $4,000 out of pocket,” Amber said. “The cost of repeated gene sequencing for us would have been staggering. But it didn’t cost us a dime because of CURE’s funding. We wouldn’t have known about the syndrome without it. With this knowledge, we can be prepared and should be able to detect any cancer in Ally or Justin early.”

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children, Precision Medicine, Research

We Finally Have Hope

young boy named Easton, a recipient of personalized cancer medicine

Easton has been fighting cancer for most of his twelve years. When he was 21 months old, he was constantly sick. His pediatrician noticed that his sickness was abnormal – he vomited more frequently in the mornings and while sitting in his car seat. A scan revealed a large tumor on Easton’s brain stem near the area that controls swallowing and nausea.

“The fact that Easton would get sick after being in his car seat made our pediatrician suspicious,” recalled his mother, Jill. “If the car seat hadn’t put pressure on the tumor, it might have taken longer to find.”

Easton had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by eight weeks of proton radiation in Jacksonville, Florida. His family was thrilled when a follow-up scan showed no presence of the tumor.

“We thought it was over,” said Jill. “We were told that if we had five years of clear scans, we wouldn’t have to worry about it again. Easton had four years of clear scans. But the cancer came back during the fifth year.”

Easton started treatment all over again in 2017 and experienced horrible side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation. Because the tumor grows around the area of the brain that controls swallowing, he has always had challenges eating. The awful mouth sores from his chemo caused him to be on a mostly liquid diet, and he had trouble maintaining weight.

In May 2022, Easton underwent a very risky surgery to try and remove the last part of the tumor. The surgery was unsuccessful. As he started recovering, Easton fell out of bed in the middle of the night. His parents rushed him to the emergency room, where doctors found that Easton’s brain was having a reaction to the glue that was used on his skull after surgery. He would need another risky brain surgery.

“This time, I felt like it was getting away from us and it was the beginning of the end,” said Jill. “He had been on some form of treatment for five years, and the tumor always found its way around it.”

But thanks to funding from CURE Childhood Cancer, Easton’s doctors have a new tool in their toolbox. CURE’s funds would pay for Easton’s tumor to be genetically mapped to see if his cancer involved any genetic mutations that could be targeted.

The genetic mapping revealed that a protein was feeding Easton’s tumor, causing it to grow. Doctors found an open clinical trial using a chemotherapy to inhibit this specific protein to prevent further tumor growth. Easton was immediately enrolled in the trial, and the results have been astounding. After four months, a scan showed that the inside of Easton’s tumor appeared to be dying. Three months later, the tumor is much smaller and is collapsing in on itself.

“The best news is that the tumor is dying. But also, he has no side effects. He can do the things a twelve-year-old should do while on this treatment,” shared Jill. “We’re still early in the process, but it has saved his life – at least at this point. I finally have hope for the first time in years. We are so encouraged and thankful to his doctors and to CURE for investing in precision medicine.”

Take the next step to support research that will help save kids with cancer… kids like Easton.

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Mark Myers
In Children, Uncategorized

Pirate Tales and Prosthetics: Alaina’s Unstoppable Sense of Humor

It doesn’t take very much time spent with Alaina to realize that she is hilarious. She is a joker who radiates positivity and has a sunny disposition despite going through a very difficult year.

Alaina started having severe knee pain early in the summer. Within a few days, it hurt so bad that she couldn’t walk. Her parents took her to the emergency room, where soon she was diagnosed with a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. The treatment plan consisted of eight rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by amputation, and then eight more rounds of chemo to prevent the cancer from returning.

The amputation Alaina had is called rotationplasty – a unique surgery where the knee is removed and the ankle is rotated and reattached to the thigh to serve as a knee. Once fitted with a prosthetic, this new “knee” offers the broadest range of motion. During the operation, surgeons removed most of her femur but were able to save the tibia, and most importantly, they removed the entire tumor.

Alaina’s mom, Mary, recently shared, “So far in our cancer journey, we have had hard times and good times. We have had good days and days where we have slept all day. Days we have met some amazing people and days when we have learned so much. We have laughed, we have cried, we have even asked why. But we know with God’s help that she will ring that bell!”

Alaina has such a positive attitude and is determined to walk as soon as possible. There are milestones of flexibility she has to reach to get her prosthetic. Although physical therapy is grueling, Alaina is working hard and is far ahead of schedule. She wants to get out of her wheelchair and learn to walk with a prosthetic.

In the meantime, she works on pranks to play on people. Her newest party trick is to bring her foot to her mouth – she says that surprises everyone the first time. She also loves showing people her scar and creates stories about how she got it. Sometimes, she will say she was the victim of a shark attack or that she’s a pirate. With Halloween coming up, none of her family or friends would be surprised to see her dress up like a pirate. But with her sunny demeanor, she will likely be the smiliest pirate to roam the seven seas!

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children, Named Funds

A Million Reasons to Hope

Lake, Mary Elizabeth, and Melissa met while fighting acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although they were different ages, they formed a unique and special bond. So did their families. The three fought the disease bravely, but each ultimately passed away just months apart. As their families grieved their loss, their shared tragedy strengthened the bond between them.

The Paris, Thompson, and Depa families

Melissa’s family already had a Named Fund with CURE Childhood Cancer aimed at advancing research into cures for AML. They invited Lake and Mary Elizabeth’s families to join them and changed the name of the fund from the Melissa Strong Fund to United for a CURE. They were, in fact, united in their hope for better outcomes for children forced to fight AML in the future. And they worked hard to raise money by selling gold bows and garden flags, washing cars, hosting golf tournaments, and creating carnivals, among other things. Their shared sweat and tears have now taken their fundraising efforts across the $1,000,000 mark, and the investment in research is becoming a source of hope for children with AML.

United for a CURE began funding Target Pediatric AML, which is the work of Dr. Soheil Meschinchi at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Through genetic testing, Target Pediatric AML’s aim is to identify common genetic changes in children with AML and target those mutations with existing drugs delivered in the right combinations.

“This is all about understanding the enemy at a deeper level and finding ways to apply that knowledge to destroy it,” said Julie Guillot, childhood cancer advocate and co-founder of Target Pediatric AML. “The data we’ve been able to build since the project started is like a snowball getting bigger as it rolls downhill. CURE and United for a CURE were the project’s largest private funders, and it is now a large international clinical trial that will benefit children and adults worldwide. Those three children really set the snowball on its way.”

Sophia

Recently, Dr. Meschinchi made a discovery that exemplifies the hope that the collection of this data can provide. There is an AML subtype that only occurs in infants and toddlers and has a very poor prognosis. As he poured over the data acquired on this subtype, Dr. Meschinchi noticed a cell cluster and drilled into it to find what was over-expressed in the cell. As he looked more into that cell cluster, he realized the same cluster exists in certain types of ovarian cancer. Fortunately, a drug is currently in clinical trials that is proving very effective against the form of ovarian cancer with the cell cluster.

This proved a timely discovery for a little girl named Sophia, who was fighting this particular AML subtype. In January, Sophia’s cancer elevated to 95% in her bone marrow – meaning that she only had 5% marrow in her bones. The rest was cancer! Dr. Meschinchi was able to get approval from the FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturer to give the ovarian cancer drug to Sophia. After only two infusions, the cancer cells in her marrow were reduced from 95% to only 1%. With her bone marrow nearly free of cancer, she was able to receive a bone marrow transplant at the end of April. Today, she is cancer-free.

Love for Lake, Mary Elizabeth, and Melissa led their families to raise money in the hope of finding a cure, and now a little girl is in remission because of their effort. And that hope is building as discoveries continue to grow.

“This project is searching for individual therapies for every child to improve their chance of survival,” said Joe Depa, Melissa’s father. “It’s too late for Lake, Mary Elizabeth, and Melissa. But we hope someday their names are attached to a cure for AML so that other children win their fight.”

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children

Shelby’s Mission

When Shelby Howerton was three years old, she dressed as her favorite princess for Halloween. While Cinderella didn’t stay out until the stroke of midnight, she did come home with very sore legs. Her parents assumed she had shin splints because of all the walking she did to collect candy. But her legs continued to hurt long after Halloween. When she developed a persistent fever, her mother took her to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with leukemia.

At the time, the standard treatment for leukemia lasted three years. Shelby’s doctors decided she was a good fit for a clinical trial that was shorter but more intense. She was supposed to finish in two years. But she contracted parvovirus when she was immunocompromised, which extended her treatment by six months. The trial worked, and she has been cancer-free ever since.

Shelby and her twin brother, Caleb

Today Shelby is healthy and happy. She can run a mile in under six minutes, and later this month, she will graduate from Milton High School. But she never forgot the days she fought cancer. In fact, that experience has shaped her in many ways.

When she was in middle school, her sister, Faith, started a CURE Club at Milton High School. She also became very active in the Health Occupational Students of America (HOSA) club. Faith was instrumental in the club’s push to collect toys and toiletry items for children currently battling cancer. When Faith graduated, Shelby stepped right in and continued the effort.

“We start collecting after winter break and continue until the semester ends,” Shelby explained. “Then I bring everything to CURE on Christmas Eve. Raising awareness for childhood cancer and bringing in donations is the absolute least I can do to help children with cancer.”

Shelby has plans to do much more. After graduation, she will begin her studies at Georgia Tech in the fall, majoring in neuroscience. Her goal is to become a pediatric oncologist, just like the doctors who treated her.

“Whenever I thought about a career path, my head jumped immediately to being in the hospital,” Shelby said. “There is a difference between telling your story and doing something about it. I feel like I need to do something to help kids.”

Shelby has already done so much. She has already handed off the leadership of the CURE Club at Milton High School to a new officer. Not surprisingly, she made sure to get a commitment that the toy donations will continue after she is gone.

Congratulations, Shelby. We appreciate how much you’ve done to encourage children with cancer, and we look forward to seeing all you do to care for them in the future.

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Children, Named Funds

Carrying Hope

Trenton Kindred will carry an extra bit of hope when he walks across the graduation stage in his scarlet cap and gown. Not only hope for his future that was once in doubt, but he also carries a special hope for others that he and his family have nurtured since 2006.

When Trenton was only one year old, he was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma. His parents, Greg and Ginger, had to watch as their baby began a very harsh treatment and all its horrible side effects. They were told he had a 20% chance of survival and a 70% chance of relapse. Before reaching his 25th month, Trenton endured five rounds of intense chemo, two bone marrow transplants, 21 days of being put to sleep during radiation treatments, several surgeries, 27 port line infections, and six months of oral chemo.

Through it all, Trenton fought back. His determination and love of life helped him get through these rigorous challenges. In 2006, Trenton was declared cancer-free.

“Trenton’s experience has shown us the huge need for less-toxic cancer treatments specifically tailored to kids and their growing bodies,” Ginger said. “Our family hopes that in the future, no other family will ever hear the heart-sinking words ‘Your child has cancer.’ But if that does happen, there will be hope – a hope of a cure and less toxic treatments tailored to kids that will allow them to be kids that grow into healthy adults.”

Not ones to sit idly by and let others do the work, the Kindred family started the Trenton W. Kindred Research Fund, a named fund at CURE. The purpose of the fund is to support childhood cancer research. The Kindreds and their supporters are committed to advancing better treatment for neuroblastoma and, ultimately, to find a cure for this aggressive disease. To date, the fund has raised $303,465 to fight childhood cancer! That is a lot of hope that Trenton and his family have provided to other children in the fight.

And Trenton? He’s doing great these days. After graduating with honors, he will head to Oglethorpe University in the fall, where he will study Business Administration and Economics. He’s not 100% sure where that will lead but is hoping to further his education in law school as a corporate or commercial real estate lawyer.

“He continues to amaze us with his infectious humor, shyness, and love for life,” said Ginger. “He’s an old soul, and he is fearless. But he is also reserved and has a soft soul that we think comes from staring into the darkest of places at such a young age. He is truly a miracle, and our family lives each day not taking anything for granted.”

Mark Myers
In Childhood Cancer, Children

Nicholas’s Bright Future

Later this month, Nicholas Childers will walk with his fellow seniors as they graduate from St. Andrews School. By all accounts, his future certainly looks bright. Most people who see him in his blue cap and gown will never know that there was a time when his future was in doubt. But even at his young age, Nicholas has fought a battle that most can’t fathom.

In 2015, ten-year-old Nicholas began experiencing persistent nausea and fever. His parents were told it was a virus. But after it wouldn’t go away after two months, they knew it was something more. On April 3, blood work revealed that Nicholas had B-cell high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“Nicholas responded well to treatment in the beginning,” shared his mother, Cheryl. “But things went downhill fast. The nausea was relentless. He had pancreatitis from one chemo and had to have his gallbladder removed. Then he had an anaphylactic reaction to another drug. It was awful.”

Today’s treatment for leukemia lasts approximately three years. Nicholas reached remission in the first month. But a year later, the side effects were still affecting him, and the anti-nausea medications were not helping. So his doctors decided to stop his medications for a week to let his body recoup. His next spinal tap revealed that Nicholas had relapsed.

“At this point, Nicholas needed a bone marrow transplant,” Cheryl said. “We had everyone tested, and no one was a match. Fortunately, a perfect match was found in a woman in England. She went through the donation procedure, and Nicholas had the transplant in April 2017.”

While the transplant was difficult for him, he was declared cancer-free the following month and finished treatment in December. He hasn’t looked back.

Nicholas loves animals and talked about going to veterinary school after college. But he shadowed a friend in a veterinary clinic and decided that line of work wasn’t for him.

“After that experience, he was able to shadow our dentist and has really enjoyed it,” Cheryl said. “So he will be studying biomedical sciences at the school of Health Professions at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and plans on becoming a dentist! He’s very excited about it.”

At CURE, we love seeing kids persevere through their struggles and have the opportunity to live out their dreams. We will be cheering Nicholas on as he graduates and moves on to college!