In 2008, when Morgan was 12, a routine doctor's appointment changed his life. He had been very pale and low on energy for several months. I thought he might be anemic and would need an iron shot or iron pills. No problem. However, a blood test quickly showed he actually had leukemia. The doctor was concerned that he was at risk for a stroke, so we immediately packed and drove 700 miles to Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado.  After a month of treatment in Denver, he was in remission and was allowed to come home and continue a three-year treatment plan at a local hospital. For the next 18 months, Morgan had a monthly spinal tap and chemotherapy. He was adjusting as well as possible, but we were stunned when a routine blood test in March 2010 indicated that he had relapsed. He would again need life-saving treatment in Denver, which would include heavy doses of chemotherapy for two months, followed by total body irradiation and a bone marrow transplant. The good news was that his father turned out to be a match for the bone marrow transplant. The recovery process after transplant was not easy, but after four months he was allowed to return home. It took over a year for Morgan to get his energy back. Because of his compromised immune system, he had to stay away from crowds for a year, and he opted to finish high school on-line. He enjoys indoor rock climbing and church youth group, and is a counselor at summer camps for kids with cancer. Because his cancer was aggressive, he is at risk for relapse but in May 2015 he celebrated three huge milestones: his 19th birthday, high school graduation, and 5 years in remission! He's looking forward to his next challenge -- college. Every day is a gift.

Information provided by Karen Johnson, mother
Updated: June 2015