Inspirational Stories

My granddaughter Hadley was three years old when she suddenly started limping in pain and was unable to bear weight on her right leg. Forty-eight hours and three medical appointments later, her bloodwork showed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). It was a nightmare that came out of nowhere.

Always a kid on the go and with a big personality to match, Hadley has spent much of the last year isolated at home or the hospital due to treatment. She has endured countless procedures under anesthesia and has had so many toxic medicines pumped into her little body to destroy the cancer. Hadley deals with the nasty side effects of treatment almost daily.

Most recently, Hadley suffered from a severe neurologic complication during a routine lumbar puncture with intrathecal methotrexate which resulted in a prolonged hospitalization. Hadley had to relearn how to walk and regain bladder function. This experience really highlighted the need for better and less toxic treatments for children.

Despite all this, Hadley’s big personality continues to shine as she constantly makes those around her laugh. She is the strongest, bravest, and funniest little girl. She enjoys riding her bike, doing arts and crafts, and going for walks with her dog, Rio.

Living far away from family has made dealing with this even harder. Her grandparents have all put their lives on hold to spend extended time helping care for Hadley. This has been both difficult and a blessing as they have created very special bonds with Hadley that we trust will last a lifetime.