We would like to introduce you to Lyncoln and her family. Lyncoln is currently fighting B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and her story hits home for a lot of us who have gone through the cancer journey.

Lyncoln was a happy, newly turned three year old. Nothing was holding her back. She was excelling in her learning at daycare. She was loving her trips to the pool and the park. I had plans for this summer to take her to all the fun places in our area that a toddler would enjoy. She loves meeting new people and playing with kids. She never meets a stranger. She loves the kids at her in home daycare and the provider herself.

On Wednesday, June 14, Lyncoln tripped at daycare and hit her head quite hard. She had a big goose egg on her forehead. We kept an eye on her for signs of concussion, but nothing ever presented. Then on Saturday, June 17, she fell off a chair onto concrete and hit her head again around the same spot. We, again, watched for signs of concussion. Meanwhile, I had been noticing additional bruises on her legs that week, but I just thought it was because she was a clumsy toddler.

The evening of the second fall, she was a lot more tired than usual and threw up. We decided to take her to the ER where they did a head CT. While there, I asked about the bruising. They said they would do some blood work because she may have a bleeding disorder. The CT came back fine with no signs of a head injury, but the blood work was a different story. At 5 am on June 18, the ER doctor told us that the blood results indicated signs of leukemia. That’s when our world stopped.

We were admitted to a room. Countless more tests were done along with a spinal tap and bone marrow biopsy. In the coming weeks, she had more spinal taps and SO MUCH CHEMO. She also had a NG (feeding) tube for a couple of weeks. She said she wanted to go home numerous times, and that just broke our hearts… She is 3. She doesn’t understand what is happening. She doesn’t get that she is sick, and the saddest thing is that because she is so young, she probably just thinks this is what life is like. After 31 days in the hospital she was finally able to come home. It has been 2 months since that initial release, and Lyncoln has spent more nights in the hospital than she has at home. She has had a few fevers that prompted an ER visit. A couple drops in blood sugar that were dangerously low caused by one of her chemo meds that she will have to take much more of in the next phase of treatment. Interim Maintenance starts next week as long as her numbers are good. We are not looking forward to it as there are many more scheduled overnight stays and that one chemo scares us in regards to her blood sugar.

The first time her blood sugar dropped (down to 39), her paternal grandmother found her nearly unresponsive on the floor in her room. 911 had to be called. My husband and I raced home from work. It was such a scary experience and very traumatic for my mother-in-law. The last time it dropped (35), she was sent to the ER and stayed at the hospital for 11 days until she was finished with that chemo. During that time, the three major care takers of Lyncoln (me, her dad, and paternal grandmother) were all diagnosed with COVID so we couldn’t go to the hospital. We had to wait ten days from the onset of symptoms. I’m thankful she was in the hospital and away from us, but also, I know it sucked so badly for her because she was stuck in a tiny little room for 11 days straight. Thankfully my mom and my husband’s dad stepped up and took turns staying with her. I don’t know what we would have done without them.

Never in my life would I have ever imagined my child would have cancer. When I was pregnant and during her early months of life I had thought about what COULD happen. Of course cancer popped in my head, but NO ONE on either side of her family has ever had cancer so I just knew she never would. I was too cocky, I guess, too sure that she wouldn’t get sick like this.

Since her diagnosis, the amount of love and support we have received - even from complete strangers and some from the other side of the world - has been breathtaking. The love and support is more than I could have ever dreamed. Communities have come together in support of our little girl, and we are so beyond grateful for everything we have received and all the prayers that have been prayed. During one fundraising a friend/coworker organized at a Texas Roadhouse, I happened to meet the district manager of Lowe’s. She was inspired by Lyncoln and her story and reached out to her bosses. Lowes decided they wanted to donate an amazing swing set, patio furniture, and grill among a few other things. They were aware that she couldn’t play like a normal kid and they wanted to make this treatment process just a little bit easier by doing something like this for her. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity.

It has only been three months into a two year treatment. It has only just begun. There will still be so many more changes to come in the next two years. We have no idea what to expect. We just take life a day at a time. With every new phase of treatment comes a new normal routine for us. My biggest wish is that she could go to daycare and continue to learn and socialize. It just isn’t a reality right now with her compromised immune system. She is a smart little three year old, and now she is regressing in her learning because we just don’t have the teaching skills others, such as her daycare provider, has. I do try, but it is hard.

I also have to keep working my full time job in order to provide for my family. My husband has to do the same, He is the major bread winner in the family, and he is working half the amount he was before her diagnosis. He doesn’t have the drive he had before this all started. Not to mention the amount of times he has to take off work because she is sick or for doctors appointment, etc. His job is sales, he can work remotely, and his salary is based on commissions so he has the ability to take more time to help with Lyncoln. Mine is hourly and I have to be present so I don’t have as much flexibility. I don’t know what we would do if he didn’t have that. I can’t even imagine. Also, if it weren’t for GoFundMe, we would be SO behind on bills. Thankfully we have some of that, but it has slowed down significantly. Then at the beginning of the year, our deductible starts over and we have to meet it all over again. The begining of the new year is going to be an interesting and scary time for us financially, I’m afraid. Only time will tell what it will really be like, though.

If you would like to follow along with Lyncoln and her family, they have a Facebook support group. If you would like to donate to help them, here is a link to their GoFundMe. Since Savanna submitted her story, Lyncoln has continued to have issues with eating and hypoglycemia. In February, she had a G-tube placed which has dramatically improved her energy levels and appetite. They have been able to take small day trips which they have not been able to do since her diagnosis. She is currently on her maintenance chemotherapy. We hope that she continues to improve and that the G-tube has worked to fix her hypoglycemia.