Quintin is a one-year-old boy that was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) on July 1, 2008. He has to go through chemotherapy for 3 1/2 years. He has a 4-year-old sister named Kadence and a 2 1/2 year-old brother named Konner. We probably never would have known that Quintin was even sick if he wouldn’t have gotten strep throat. We went to what we thought was going to be a routine check up appointment, to make sure that his strep was gone, but instead something happened that will change his life forever. Two days before his check up I had him in the emergency room, and his dad had him in the emergency room, both times the doctors said that he had a rash. It was a good thing that he went to a pediatrician because she took one look at him and said “I’m sorry to tell you but that is not a rash, he has bruises under his skin.” She sent him to get blood work and a chest x-ray right away. About an hour later the doctor called with the scariest phone call I have ever received. She said, “I am sorry to tell you this, but Quintin's white blood cell count is really high and his hemoglobin and his platelet counts are really low.” She said that she had already spoken with Syracuse and that I needed to get him there as soon as possible because he may have cancer. As soon as he got there they started an IV and took blood. It was the worst thing ever for a parent to have to go through.

Quintin has been in remission since August 1, 2008. He is still undergoing chemotherapy every 4 weeks for the next 3 years. He is a strong little boy and is doing really good now that he has gotten through the hard treatment.

Written by Katie Chapin, Quintin’s Mother
07/09