Noah L.

Ohio

Birth Date -  July 26, 2006

Main Diagnosis -   Acute Myeloid leukemia

THEME:   Christmas

Noah's Story

Noah has always been a very healthy child, maybe a case of strep throat along the way but nothing that was ever of much concern or could not be treated by an antibiotic. On the first day of second grade Noah was walking into school with his mom, she noticed that his little chest was beating very fast. Not so fast that he needed to be taken to the ER immediately but fast enough that she wanted to notify their pediatrician to schedule a follow up. Noah was not short of breath, having chest pain or displaying any outwardly signs stating that he was in distress, for that matter when he stopped up for his mid afternoon hello with mom after lunch, he appeared to be having a great first day. Dr. Alkaed their pediatrician requested to see him after school. After assessment it was decided that Noah should go for some blood work to complete a through exam. That night Noah's mom received a phone call that stated that not all of the results were in but something seemed to be off with his lab values. The next morning when she called to get his complete lab results and further instruction from the Doctor she was notified that they needed to go to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh immediately that Noah needed to see an Oncologist/ Hematologist. In disbelief Noah was taken out of school 1/2 a day to follow through with the Doctor's orders for further assessment. Noah was confused as to why we needed to leave school early on the second day of school! As the ER Doctors began to assess Noah , a referral was made for the Oncology department to come in for a consult. It began to seem to real as to why we were actually there, Our son had CANCER. Our son that appeared to be healthy for all accounts but a rapid heart beat had the big "C" word.

Noah was diagnosed after blood smear, bone marrow aspiration, and lumbar puncture as having AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, "CANCER". Within 48 hours our world had been turned upside down, shaken around, and left sitting on its side. HOW, WHY, IS THIS REAL??? Questions that we still ask today. After the results of his bone marrow sample returned we later found out that not only did Noah have AML but that he had the genetic mutation of FLT3 which requires very aggressive treatment, that must be treated with chemo along with a bone marrow transplant. His chances of a cure are 70% with aggressive treatment, and bone marrow transplant.

Noah has a little sister Maggie that started pre-school this year, the team of Doctors stated that Maggie would mostly likely be the best match for bone marrow transplant. As a parent to think that you will have both of your children in two separate rooms in surgery is very sobering. What choice do you have? We are praying that Maggie will be a match and that it will help Noah in his race for a CURE. (We found out in October that Maggie is a match to be a donor for Noah's bone marrow transplant).

The genetic mutation FLT3 is something that has only recently (within 5 years) been identified as a high risk factor for relapse. Thanks to continued research in childhood leukemia we are now able to know that without bone marrow transplant children with AML, mutation FLT3 will have a higher probability of relapse and subsequent chemo treatments, and bone marrow transplant with increased risk and decreased odds for a cure.We strongly support continued research in childhood cancer's. Noah is currently in research programs to help Doctor's better understand and treat Noah and other children like him from around the world with the same diagnosis.

Noah's cancer has not been able to be put into remission as of yet. We are in the mist of his third round of chemo. We are praying that the results we will receive back around the first of the year will let us know that he is in remission. If they get him to remission after this round he is scheduled to have his bone marrow transplant sometime around the end of January.