As a mom, I’m sure you can understand how frightening it was to hear that my 10 month old baby boy had cancer. In May 2013, my son Jayce was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) after initially getting bronchitis at 4 months old and approximately 6 months of doctor visits, breathing treatments and being sent home.

He hadn’t been feeling well, sleeping all the time and when I picked him up he would cry like he was hurting. When we finally learned he had AML they told us he also had pneumonia. I nearly passed out after hearing this terrifying news!

He was immediately transferred to Valley Children’s hospital in Madera where they started chemo. Before they could start treatment for the Leukemia, they had to treat the pneumonia. Once they started him on chemo, his breathing began to improve. The doctor had told me that the leukemia had moved into the membranes around his face which was what had caused his restricted breathing. After his first round of chemo, we were told his best chance was a bone marrow transplant.

They began the search for a match and upon admission for his second round of chemo I received the call that they had found one. By September he was transferred to City of Hope. In early October 2013 he had his bone marrow transplant. We spent all of the holidays in the hospital and the worst part was I couldn’t take care of my daughter and I rarely got to see her. She stayed with her grandma.

At the time this was all happening I was a 19 year old single mother. I lost my first apartment, my car, and my job due to this horrible illness. I was scared and felt helpless.

I remember after transplant receiving two checks of financial support from LLS. It really helped us because at the time we had been moved to the outpatient living facilities at City of Hope and we had to pay for our food and diapers, etc.

I now travel to L.A. periodically for check-ups and I am applying for travel assistance from LLS.

Even though we’ve been through a terrifying experience, believe it or not I feel lucky. My son is doing well. He’s a kindergartner and he plays and is enjoying life with his friends and family.

I am grateful to LLS for helping to fund the treatments that saved my baby’s life!

-Ashley Thompson