Episode 2: Stephanie’s Story - Navigating Childhood Leukemia and Finding Healing

Have you ever had someone say to you, "I can't even imagine"? When my son was diagnosed with leukemia, that’s all we heard. But here's the thing: We couldn’t imagine it either, yet there we were, living it. In this episode, I’m sharing my family’s story. It’s a difficult one, but it's one that needs to be told—not only to shed light on childhood cancer but also to share how, through it all, we survived.

It all began on July 31, 2017, a date forever etched in my memory. My son woke up with a swollen jaw. It seemed minor at first—maybe an infection, I thought. But after several doctors’ visits, blood tests, and an unexplained urgency from our dentist to head to the ER, we were finally told the words that no parent ever wants to hear: cancer.

I vividly remember sitting in that small room, my husband Joe and I, hearing that our sweet, four-year-old boy likely had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I went into a state of shock. How could this be happening? He was so young, so full of life. But there we were, sitting in the ER with doctors telling us he had cancer. They took vial after vial of blood, and our hearts shattered with each one.

I had a feeling that something wasn’t right. Over the previous weeks, our son had been extra whiny, more tired than usual, and would scream in pain from his legs. He had become pale, withdrawn—nothing like the active, talkative boy we knew. Yet, nothing could prepare us for this. After more tests, it was confirmed: our son had leukemia.

The next few days were a blur. We spent 12 long, exhausting days in the hospital as they treated not only the leukemia but also a staph infection that had developed in his blood. Our baby was so sick. The doctors reassured us that chemotherapy would be aggressive but necessary. I was terrified. I had spent years making our home a low-toxic, holistic space, and now they were telling me my son needed chemotherapy—one of the most toxic treatments imaginable.

But we didn’t have a choice. When it comes to childhood cancer, parents don’t get to say no. If we had resisted the prescribed treatment plan, we could have been reported to Child Protective Services. There was no room for alternatives, no options for holistic treatments alone. We had to go forward, trusting in the medical system while doing everything in our power to support our son’s health naturally alongside the chemotherapy.

During those dark days, I felt like our world was crumbling around us. Not only was our son in the fight of his life, but I was also at the end of my pregnancy with our third child. Three days after our son was discharged from the hospital, I went into labor and gave birth to his little brother. Then, just 10 days later, we were hit by Hurricane Irma. Imagine riding out a Category 5 hurricane with a newborn, a toddler, and a son who had just started chemotherapy. It was chaos, to say the least.

But through it all, we survived.

As difficult as those first few months were, I did my best to research and support his treatment holistically. We explored everything—from acupuncture and chiropractic care to herbal supplements and medical marijuana. I even added my breast milk to his diet for the antibodies and nutrients it provided. Anything that could help his little body through the ordeal of chemo, I was willing to try.

It wasn’t an easy road. There were days when he wouldn’t eat, days when the chemo took everything from him. But then, there were the small victories too—like the day he finally ate a slice of Papa John’s pizza after weeks of not eating anything. I never thought I’d be so grateful for pizza, but in those moments, you take what you can get.

By some miracle, just 29 days after his diagnosis, we were told that our son was in remission. It was the best news we could have hoped for. Yet, as any cancer parent knows, remission doesn’t mean cured. It just meant we had reached a critical milestone. We still had months of treatment ahead—26 months to be exact. But we clung to the hope that remission offered.

Today, our son is thriving. He’s an 11-year-old full of life, energy, and spirit. You would never guess what he’s been through by looking at him. But the journey has changed us all. We’ve said goodbye to too many friends, attended funerals for children, and been reminded over and over that childhood cancer is not as rare as we’re led to believe.

Through all of this, I have learned to advocate fiercely for my child. I’ve had to fight for treatment options, challenge doctors, and make decisions I never imagined I’d have to make. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that a parent’s love knows no bounds. We will move mountains for our children, and I’ll continue to do so for mine.

As September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I urge everyone reading this to take a moment and consider the real impact of this disease. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, yet only 4% of cancer funding is allocated to pediatric cancer research. If you feel compelled to help, support local organizations, or directly donate to families. They need it more than you can imagine.

We survived, but many families don’t. And that’s why we’re here, telling our story.

- Stephanie (co-host)