Prior to July 7, 2019, Zoey was a normal, healthy, fun-loving and adventurous 8-year-old. She enjoyed helping others and spending time with friends and family.
Zoey loves reading, playing outside, riding bikes and swimming. She also enjoys visiting Six Flags, playing video games, and watching movies.
Her mom tells us, “As a mother you wake up and there is no preparing for the news that shook our lives on 7/11/19. Zoey was taken to SSM St Clare after a seizure (with no previous history), she stopped breathing, was intubated and air lifted to SSM Cardinal Glennon where after many test/labs/imaging we were given a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.”
Two days after the diagnosis, Zoey was weaned off the ventilator and was able to get her first chemo therapy treatment. Just a few days later, they we were given more information that revealed that she has an aggressive form of ALL with iAMP21 involvement and an additional chemo drug has been added to her regimen.
With the latest news, Zoey requires physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to assist her to regain her previous level of function. Her mom said, “We will be inpatient for a minimum of 30 days. It is now necessary to think of this as our new normal. The next 3 years will be a rough road of clinic visits, inpatient stays (due to her aggressive form of ALL), and needing to be homeschooled to prevent any infection, which for her would be fatal. Zoey is a fighter and we will do all we can to ensure nothing but the best for her care and allow for a normal future. I’m reaching out to you, the community to assist in our journey. We can’t do it alone, we need the love, support and prayers to help us through this.”
With all the rapid changes that have occurred in their family the past month, Zoey’s mom has made the decision to go on Family and Medical Leave at work to allow her to be at home with her daughter and by her side through each step of her journey with ALL.
To Zoey’s family, NEGU means being positive no matter how hard something may be. Remaining positive through tough times and smiling, even when things don’t always go as planned because you know God will guide you through all things.
WE NEGU FOR ZOEY!
The post Zoey Stays Strong While Diagnosed With ALL appeared first on Jessie Rees Foundation | Encouraging Kids Fighting Cancer to Never Ever Give Up | Childhood Cancer Charity.
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