Mikey
A story about a boy who changed our world.
In August of 2017, Mikey had been experiencing unexplained fevers with a bruise-like lump on his hip. After running blood testing upon admission to the hospital for a possible MRSA infection, the surgeon came into the room with news that would change the trajectory of his life. Just one week before his first birthday, Mikey was diagnosed with pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
He spent about 6 months in the hospital for treatment, with approximately a week home a month between chemotherapy rounds. It was a hardship endured with optimism as Mikey was officially cancer-free!
Over the next year, Mikey was able to finally live like a normal toddler. He was able to go to school and play with other kids without risk of infection. He went on adventures with his family to see a little piece of the world.
Unfortunately, this period of ‘normal’ wasn’t meant to last.
In June of 2019, Mikey started getting sick on and off again. His pediatrician noted petechiae (small red blood spots) and suggested reaching out to the oncologist.
The AML was back.
Only this time it was worse, his cancer was more aggressive and would prove to be more challenging to treat.
Over the next 7 months, Mikey battled another relapse, his body being taken over by solid forms of AML, months of no immune system (he was not allowed to recover from chemotherapy due to his aggressive disease), infections, and bone marrow transplant with severe graft-vs-host disease.
Despite all of this he maintained a smile and laughed often. The medical staff could often find him out in the halls playing hide and seek with his toys, running with his Buzz Lightyear wings, or playing with Nerf guns. His love for life was infectious and we made the best of his isolation and treatment that we could.
In February of 2020, Mikey’s cancer returned. Only this time there would be no controlling it. He was admitted to the PICU and placed on a ventilator due to the added complication of developing pneumatosis (air in the walls of his intestines).
Mikey passed away at 3 1/2 years old on February 26th, 2020 in the arms of his mother and father, on the same hospital floor with the medical staff that cared and loved him for half of his life.
A love and dedication his family will forever be grateful for.
