Honored Patients

Our Inspirations

Ryleigh Thomason

Let me introduce myself ? my name is Ryleigh Thomason. I?m 14 years old and was diagnosed with a form of leukemia called Myleodysplastic Syndrome last July. The only treatment for my cancer is a bone marrow transplant, which I had at Primary Children?s Medical Center in Salt Lake, on August 29, 2008. My sister, Bayleigh, was my marrow donor. She?s one of the many heroes that I?ve been blessed with in my life.

Before I got sick, I was a runner. I?ve never been in a marathon, but ran on my school?s cross-country and track team. I LOVE to run and can?t wait to get back to it when my body is stronger. There is something so empowering about a good run. I miss that feeling of being free and fast and unstoppable. Runners are the greatest people. We know that, when we push through that initial pain, and the pain that we know will come later, the unique feeling of flying, clarity of thought, and a sense of accomplishment washes over us. I feel the happiest when I am running ? almost silly. My experiences as a runner have helped me through many difficult times during my treatment. I know that the pain will pass if I can just push through it and eventually that happy, giddy feeling will return.

I want you to know that I count you among my heroes. Today, you went beyond good intentions, you took action and are making a difference. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helped my family stay together during my long treatment in Salt Lake. You helped pay for gas so my dad and sister could visit every weekend. You helped us find a great place to live so I could be close to the hospital. You helped connect my mom with other mom?s who have been through the same experiences. You helped my doctor look for a way to save me and many, many other kids. Each step you take today, adds to the life of someone else, that is the greatest gift you can give, the most important action you will take.

Know that I?m thinking of you and so grateful for you.

Sincerely,

Ryleigh Thomason

Zach Taylor

Zach was diagnosed on July 18, 2008 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - T Cell

The week he was diagnosed he was playing on the West Valley All Star baseball team and was competing in the District Championships. He had pitched and was playing great. He was tired and felt that he was catching something so we took him to St. Luke's in Eagle and then we were sent to the ER at St. Luke's Boise for more tests. After taking blood work, urine test, chest x-ray and an ultrasound, the ER doc came in and pulled me aside that his white cell count was elevated (80,000) and they think it may be leukemia. The diagnosis was confirmed and Zach started chemotherapy immediately and was in the hospital for 6 days getting treatment. Within the first week, his body responded very well to the treatment and he was considered to be a "Rapid Early Responder" which was great news for his overall treatment and prognosis.

They treat leukemia very aggressively the first 10 months with four intense phases of treatment. Zach received both chemotherapy and radiation.

Zach is officially in the Maintenance Phase of his treatment now and he is feeling great. He only has to go into MSTI once a month for Vincristine chemo through his port and he takes a daily oral chemo and another oral chemo once a week. He has to endure a spinal tap every 12 weeks. He was taking steroids for 5 days every month but they have stopped that because of some bone issues Zach was having.

Zach is once again able to participate in the sport he loves most?Baseball. He plays for West Valley Little League and is playing on the A's for the majors. He has continued to gain strength and endurance and is playing great this season. His favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and he especially likes Jon Lester, who is a fellow cancer survivor.

Zach will continue to be in the Maintenance Phase for another 2 years and 5 months but his prognosis is good and he is staying very positive.

Spencer Baderman

Born October 6th 2000

Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia December 31st 2006.

Spencer is an amazing young man. He has been through more in his short life than most of us adults will ever go through. While his little brother Noah awaited a heart transplant in early 2006, Spencer was busy being a kindergartner. While we were living in Northern California Spencer broke his right tibia then not even a month later he broke his collar bone. I was surprised that these minor accidents resulted in broken bones, and I took him to see numerous doctors. They all said the same things, kids break things, he?ll be fine. I wasn?t so certain. When we returned to Boise December 10th 2006 we thought we had put the hardest part of our lives behind us, Noah had a new heart and we were ready to get back to ?normal?. Unfortunately that just wasn?t to be. On December 26th Spencer began complaining that the leg he had broken was hurting badly. I took him in to see our pediatrician and they did x-rays. There was nothing to see, the bone was healed, so I asked for blood tests, I had a feeling there was something else.

When Spencer?s blood counts came back his sedimentation rate was sky high, the doctors thought bone infection. I asked for an oncologist, I was told it wasn?t cancer and I didn?t need an oncologist. I asked for one anyway, I learned a long time ago to trust my gut feelings. On December 31st 2006 the doctors removed a piece of Spencer?s leg bone to check for infection, there behind the small piece of bone was a tumor of Leukemia cells. Treatment began immediately and Spencer responded wonderfully, and was in remission by February. Unfortunately the treatment had lots of terrifying effects, at one point Spencer could not walk, needed shots to get rid of blood clots, had no energy to even move, and lost all his hair.

From the beginning Spencer has been the strongest one in this fight. Not only is he fighting to keep his body working, he is struggling just to be an 8 year old boy. He does this all with such Grace, and a positive attitude. I will never forget, just a few days after his diagnosis, during his initial chemo treatments, placement of a port and numerous tests, he looked at me as I cried and said ,? Mom , I?m just sick , I?ll be fine!? These are the words I live by, these words are the reason I get up everyday, and these are the words that keep me fighting for my child. He will never give up, so neither can I.