It’s hard to put into words what these past few weeks have been like. I’m still in shock, and I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened. My son, Fernando, is 11 years old. He’s always been the life of the party, popular with everyone, and just a joy to be around. He’s always had this infectious energy that drew people to him. He’s the kid everyone loves, and for good reason. He’s sweet, funny, and caring. He’s a soccer player, always out there running and laughing with his friends. He’s also a straight-A student, always striving to do his best in everything he does.On January 15, during soccer practice, dad noticed something was off. He went up to him and told him he felt dizzy. We took him home right away. At first, I didn’t think much of it. Kids get tired, right? But something didn’t sit right with us, so the next day, I took him to his primary doctor. He woke up feeling fine, like nothing had happened the day before. He went to school as usual, and I picked him up a little early to go to the doctor’s office. He thought I was exaggerating. The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned. He said it was probably just a one-time thing, maybe he hadn’t been drinking enough water or eating properly. He’s a growing boy, after all. But as a mom, I couldn’t just let it go. I asked for some blood work, just to be sure. I wanted to put my mind at ease. The doctor agreed, and we went ahead with it.The next morning, at 5:30am, I got a call from Kaiser. It was a doctor, and her voice was full of concern. She told me that the blood work had come back, and it wasn’t good. They wanted us to take Fernando straight to the emergency room. I was in complete disbelief. We didn’t understand why this was happening or why it was so urgent, but we trusted the doctor and did what she said.
At the hospital, they retested him, and the news we received was the worst kind of news a parent can hear. Fernando had leukemia. His white blood cells were sky-high – at 189, when they should have been around 6. It was a dangerously high number, and they told us they needed to start treatment right away. That Friday, Fernando had his first round of chemo.The whole experience has been overwhelming. But through it all, Fernando has stayed so incredibly positive. I don’t know how he does it. He’s still the same Fernando, always looking on the bright side, laughing with his friends, and keeping his spirits up. He has so much support from his friends, family, and even classmates who are rallying around him, sending him messages and prayers.Before all of this, Fernando was so active. Soccer was his life – he lived for it. Now, he’s in the induction phase of treatment, and while it’s been hard, I know he’s going to keep pushing through. In a couple of weeks, he’ll move to the next cycle, and I have no doubt he’ll face it with the same courage and strength that he’s shown every day since his diagnosis.
As a mom, I can’t even begin to describe the heartache I’ve felt, but I’ve learned to take things one day at a time. Fernando is strong. He’s a fighter, and we’re all fighting alongside him. I’m grateful for the support, and I know that with the love of his friends, family, and everyone who cares about him, he’ll get through this. We’ll get through this.
