The Kingly Kaiden
September 1, 2020
Dauntless Derrick
September 1, 2020
Zakary is just like any other 4 year old. He enjoys playing with toy cars, playing the doctor in medical games, and hanging out with his 2-year old kid brother. His life was completely normal for the past few years, enjoying life with his parents, brother, and older sister.
Everything changed on December 14, 2019, when Zakary ended up in the hospital due to him frequently passing out. It took about 2 months to receive his diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ALL is a blood and bone marrow cancer that affects white blood cells, and it is the most common childhood cancer. It is developed when the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes.
Zakary’s expected length of treatment is two years, and his family is determined to help him beat the illness, traveling to his cancer treatments at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center when appointments are due. His parents have signed him up for clinical trials which they are hoping will aid with treatment.
Since his diagnosis, Zakary’s family had to move in order to be halfway between cancer treatments and his father’s work, who travels 160 miles to his full-time job every day. His mother, who plants on attending college in the fall, stopped working and is now a stay at home parent, and it is taking a toll with bill payments, especially rent. Childhood cancer is never easy on a family and largely affects both the child and their family. Zakary’s family seems to be working through his diagnosis and is mostly afraid of him falling ill. Zakary, not fully understanding what is going on, hates not being able to leave the house and just wants to go to school. Thankfully, Zakary has the constant support and company of his parents, Lynn and Nicholas, his little brother, Skyler, and his older sister Rylee, and they will do whatever they can to beat this cancer together.
Help Max Cure continue to support families like Zakary’s and so many others.
This article was drafted by Max Cure Foundation Junior Board Member Nivetha Kumar.
