In May of 2019, Brooklyn was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). She was 7 years old at the time.

She was brought to her primary care doctor because her nurse noticed her stomach was very distended and hard. Her primary care did an x-ray on her stomach and then later referred her to Porter Hospital to get blood work done within the next week. Brooklyn's mom, Lindsay, got a phone call from her primary care nurse saying that the blood work should be done sooner than later, so she picked Brooklyn up from school that day and took her in. Lindsay promised Brooklyn a treat so they stopped at a store on the way home about 15 minutes away from the hospital. Lindsay looked down at her phone before they even got in the car and the hospital was calling. The hospital said that she needed to get Brooklyn to the hospital as soon as possible because her blood work was abnormal. Lindsay had to have her sister take over driving because she was so anxious. They made it about 5 minutes down the road when the doctors called back and said “if you’re not already here then turn around and head to Burlington because we don’t have anyone here that specializes in pediatric hematology and oncology and just to let you know you’re going to be admitted.” Immediately Lindsay's mind said "okaayyy, oncology, that's cancer." They turned around to head to Burlington, stopping at their house along the way to grab some essential things, like phone chargers, clothes, Brooklyn’s Minnie mouse blanket (her favorite) and her favorite stuffy “Big Woof Woof.” They made it from Ferrisburgh to Shelburne when her primary care doctor called and said Brooklyn's white cell count was around 500,000 and that they typically only see numbers so high when a child has leukemia. Lindsay's heart dropped and the tears started. Brooklyn of course asked what was wrong and she told her she had allergies, not wanting to alarm her.

They made it to the hospital where they met her AMAZING oncologist Doctor Homans. He checked her over and said her spleen was very enlarged because it had been working overtime to fight this off. He then sat Brooklyn’s father and mother down and explained Brooklyn’s diagnosis to them and said that less than 3% of children diagnosed with leukemia are diagnosed with CML. They spent the next two weeks in the Vermont Children's Hospital with their amazing staff of doctors and nurses. Brooklyn was put on 2 different chemo meds, and medication to help with nausea, had bone marrow testing, and at one point needed to get a blood transfusion. The toughest day was her first dose of the medicine they needed to take home that she would stay on. It was called Gleevec and she couldn’t swallow pills at the time so it needed to be dissolved in apple juice. It tasted horrible and was a battle to give to her.

While in the hospital Brooklyn got a chance to apply for the Make-A-Wish foundation and her wish was granted to meet Moana, her favorite character from her favorite movie. The experience is one that will never be forgotten.

A few months after Brooklyn had been on Gleevec, Doctor Homans said that her Philadelphia chromosome wasn’t where it should be and suggested that they change her medicine to Sprycel. In order to have Brooklyn be considered in remission, her Philadelphia chromosome would have to be at 0%. Brooklyn has been on the Sprycel since the beginning of 2020 and her chromosome has dropped tremendously. It still isn’t at 0 but she is so close.

Brooklyn will always have leukemia but she doesn’t let it affect her life in any way. She is always smiling, even when it comes to taking her nasty medicine (which she can swallow now!) always has a positive, be it sometimes sassy, attitude and loves helping others in any way she can. She is the strength in so many people's lives, including her mothers. She is a survivor and will continue to be one.