Skylar was diagnosed with AML on March 23rd, 2018. She had infection after infection and never seemed to recover from one before another one was diagnosed. I finally brought her in on March 22nd and told the doctors at Children's hospital I was not leaving without a diagnosis of something other than the flu. On March 24th Skylar's central line was placed, she received a bone marrow biopsy and a lumbar puncture with intrathecal chemotherapy. The next day we found out her CNA was positive (meaning there were leukemia cells in her spinal fluid) and that her bone marrow was packed full. On March 25th, Skylar started her first of two rounds of intense chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital. Her first two rounds were hard. She kept getting viruses, even with our attempt to keep people away and keep her isolated in her room. We spent 80+ days in the hospital for both rounds. Once her 2nd round was complete, she was still not in remission. At this point the doctors all agreed that a bone marrow transplant would be the best option for her. We had to find a match quickly, before the leukemia cells started spreading again. Her sister was not a match, so we went with umbilical cord blood for her SCT (stem cell transplant). We endured 7 days of the strongest chemo we had seen so far, then finally the transplant. After 35+ days in the hospital we were sent home. Skylar was week and itchy and a rash started forming all over her body. We were readmitted to the hospital for fevers from a MRSE infection in her central line. After that was cleared up, we were released again. Skip forward several weeks, we were back. Skylar developed GVHD (graft versus host disease). After two rounds of 12-14 weeks each round, of steroids, Skylar is finally back to her normal self. We have issues with colds and such frequently, but most things are back to "normal". Skylar has been in remission for 1 year as of 07/18/19

We have been working with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. They are the number one organization to help the fight against AML. They have a campaign going currently called Beat AML.

*Click on the photo to see more from Skylar's session.