My story started on April 8, 2005 after months of backaches. On April 7th, I went in to my pediatrician's office for a blood draw after two comments were made by the school nurse and my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Gayle Brown to my mom that I looked pale at the spring parent/teacher conference. When I went to get blood drawn on April 7th, everybody (being my mom and the nurse) thought I was just being 11. So the nurse decided just to prick my finger and when she did my blood was 4 when it should be 12-14. So I was ½ a tank low! They then did a blood draw. The next day, April 8, 2005, I came home from school before it had even started because of a terrible, beyond terrible backache. That afternoon the lady from the pediatrician's office called and told my mom that my blood had clotted and that they needed to take my blood as soon as possible! Off to Scottish Rite we went. When I was finished with the blood draw, my mom asked the doctor how long it would take to get the results. The doctor said within in an hour. There was a runner in my room. When we got home there was 9 minutes left until dinner would be ready – the phone rang and a nurse told my mom to pack a bag and bring me to the Emergency Room. When I got there the nurse rushed us back into a room and prepared my hands for an IV. Then Dr. Allen Anderson came in and asked my mom to step out of the room. I said, "No! You tell us right here." He said I had Leukemia ALL Pre B. I said, "No, no, I can't have cancer!" Then I asked if I would die and Dr. Anderson said no – If you were going to get cancer, the best kinds is ALL Leukemia because we can cure it!

So that was the beginning to a long hard journey which now I am on maintenance and pretty much back to a normal kid! I have been a patient for little over a year. I visit the Aflac Clinic once a month for chemo. My favorite doctors are Dr. Anderson, Dr. Lew, and Dr. B! My favorite nurses are Mary, Holly and Olivia. I've made really good friends at the Aflac Cancer Center! Her name is Merrill King! I met her at Camp Sunshine last summer! My journey has taught me that God does things for a reason and I learned that when something bad happens, there are so many people that love you!