Monticello, Arkansas
Cole was 2 ½ years old when his, and his family’s, life was changed
forever.
Cole and his mom, Melissa, were visiting his grandparents when he got very
sick to his stomach. Bruises began appearing all over Cole’s body and
Melissa decided to consult a family doctor in the area. The doctor took a blood
sample and immediately sent Cole and his family to Arkansas Children’s
Hospital.
Once at ACH, Cole had a diagnosis of cancer within a few hours. It then took
a number of tests before a clear diagnosis of the type of cancer was made.
Cole had acute lymphocytic leukemia and 98 percent of his bone marrow was compacted
with cancer cells. Cole began chemotherapy immediately, but it would take another
six weeks to determine if his body would respond favorably to the drugs.
“The first few months of Cole being in the hospital were the worst,” says
Linda Barnes, Cole’s grandmother. “At first we were just shocked
that he had cancer. Then to watch him go from a healthy-looking little boy
to a skinny, hairless little child was hard.”
Barnes says that it took a long time for everything that was happening to sink
in, but the doctors and nurses kept talking and explaining to them until it
did. “I
realize now that the ACH staff are well trained and know pretty much how the
family will react to the news that their child has cancer,” she says.
Within six weeks, Cole was in remission. His chemotherapy continued for three
years, and he never had a relapse.
Six-year-old Cole still visits ACH once a month for tests to monitor his remission.
As a kindergarten student at Grace Christian School, he leads a very normal
life.
“I could write a book on the wonderful care Cole received at ACH,” says
Barnes. “The staff not only cared for Cole, they cared for us, too. There
are just not enough words to express our love and gratitude to Arkansas Children’s
Hospital.”
Linda says Cole is a happy boy who loves and is loved by everyone. Cole wants
to be an “animal doctor” when he grows up.
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