At 6 years old, Abbey is a spunky, outspoken little girl who knows exactly what she likes and doesn’t. One afternoon, Abbey’s mom, Jessica, noticed she was not her usual self and was battling a cough, fever and her blood vessels had popped. The medical experts at the first ER she visited told Jessica that Abbey just had a viral infection. A mother’s intuition led her to get a second opinion a week later at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital ER, where blood work and scans revealed Abbey had a form of cancer called T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, also known as T-cell ALL, is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when the body produces too many abnormal, immature T cells, a type of white blood cell that normally helps the immune system fight infection. As these abnormal cells multiply, they can crowd out healthy blood cells. Children may experience symptoms such as fever, fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, bone pain, swollen lymph nodes or difficulty breathing.
“The news came as an incredible shock,” says Jessica. “Dr. Deangulo sitting down with us and sharing how successful treatment is for T-cell ALL gave me the hope and strength to support Abbey through.”
Dr. Guillermo De Angulo, pediatric hematologist/oncologist and medical director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma program within Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, met with Abbey and her family in the ER room to explain the diagnosis and treatment plan. On that same day, Abbey was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, where she received steroids and her care team prepared the family for the medications and chemotherapy she would need.
In the months that followed, Abbey received several phases of chemotherapy, along with medications. Abbey’s energy and confidence have remained a source of strength throughout her treatment.
“She’s battled cancer with the same spunk and self-assurance she’s always had,” says Jessica. “She is comfortable enough with nurses to tell them the way she likes her pillows set up during chemo, she’s connected with fellow kids going through the same battle she is during hospital events and knows when she is not feeling well and needs a check-up from Dr. De Angulo. The care team at Nicklaus Children’s have become like family to us. They’ve been there every step of the way, even helping us navigate what challenges would come next with Abbey’s treatment. While in other medical offices we might feel like we’re bothering the experts, we have never once felt that way here.”
Now almost a year since the diagnosis, Abbey is in the maintenance phase where the treatment is focused on preventing leukemia cells from returning while she gradually resumes more of her everyday activities. She is now in 1st grade, has joined a tennis team and loves pranking her parents by leaving toy reptiles around the house.
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