Tommy’s Story

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Since I have been featured from the age of 15, my mom has been writing all my stories but now at 18, I feel it’s time to hear my side of the story. I was diagnosed on June 19, 2019, with Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Dr. Dan Zinn at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. I was having nausea, an upper respiratory infection and weight loss. My bloodwork showed signs of leukemia and my mom took me to the emergency room because she thought I was dehydrated. There the diagnosis was made, and I was transported to Cedar Crest.

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I remember one of the first things that happened was my mom being contacted by the girls at PCFLV. They friended my mom and dad on Facebook and made sure we had everything we needed from grocery store gift cards, hospital meals or just a simple visit and cup of coffee. I know they appreciated every ounce of kindness.

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I received three rounds of chemo at Lehigh Valley Hospital and was then transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a bone marrow transplant on 11/22/2019. I was able to graduate from Bangor High School and will be majoring in Special Education at Northampton Community College thanks to a scholarship from PCFLV.

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More recently, I relapsed on 5/20/2021 and I am receiving treatment at Lehigh Valley Hospital. I will continue to pursue AML awareness and be a role model for younger patients and their parents.

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Written by Tommy

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Please consider donating in Tommy’s honor to support PCFLV's mission.

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Please also consider helping local kids with cancer by donating blood at Miller-Keystone Blood Center:

https://donor.giveapint.org/donor/schedules/centers