Leo's Roll With Leukemia

09/13/2025

Annual Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc. 5k conquered! As always, it was AMAZING! Thank you to all who came out and those who donated!

08/13/2025

Hey friends! It’s been a minute so let’s catch up!

First, let’s just say: Leo is fantastic. Still cancer free, still thriving! He still has monthly oncology clinic checks which have all provided wonderful reports! Phew! Now for the fun stuff…

Our family finished up our summer with Leo’s dream trip. Our family was gifted an amazing cruise by the AMAZING Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc. and TOTE. The generosity of others continues to blow my mind. At this point, it probably shouldn’t suprise me how amazing humans can be-but it still gets me every time I think about it. Needless to say, everything about our trip was stellar, and provided us some much needed carefree family time!

We are officially back into the new school year and Leo is now in 7th grade. He also continues to pursue football! This kid is so determined yall. He worked out over the summer, now has middle school football practice every day after school, and works out with lifting several evenings after practice. I think back to a year ago when his body was still so frail and compromised and am utterly amazed with how much a body can go through and rebound from. But I have to give credit where it’s due: he’s worked for it. He has coaches and mentors that have helped him work for it. It is so easy to forget at times how sick he was, but when you really think about how much his body has been through and where he is now-it is seriously mind boggling and makes us so GRATEFUL.

Now, how we’re looking forward. September is coming in at full speed. September is a very important month, and for us and many others, a very emotionally laden month. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I’m already seeing posts regarding the football programs supporting the Gold movement and my heart could burst. One of our personal favorite events happens in September-the Dreams Come True 5k! This year it is Saturday, September 13th! Anyone who’s participated before with us or otherwise knows this is such a fun event! We seriously have the best time dressing up, being goofy, loving each other, and raising money for a local charity organization with a great purpose! We will have Team Leo for our 3rd year in a row! We would love anyone and everyone to join our team and come hang with us that day! Last year was 80s theme and we did it right! This year is superhero theme and I have no doubt we will all bring our best! Please consider joining us even if you don’t “run.” MOST of us walk together and cut up most of the time. There are also those who run and us slow pokes love waving to you on your way by us! 🤣 I will attach the link to join our team below-I will post more detailed info closer to the date! But seriously, please consider!

We are still rolling, yall! Thank you to everyone for your continued support and love for our guy!





https://p2p.onecause.com/dreamscometrue5k/team/team-leo-4

05/18/2025

3 years.

Hello all. Today marks 3 years since Leo was diagnosed. I thought it an appropriate time to check in and send an update to those of you who don’t see us now and then.

3 years ago our lives changed in every way. 3 years ago today, we received the call that Leo’s bloodwork indicated cancer and were sent straight to the ER. It was 3 years ago today I watched as CJ could not control his emotions, which is a rare event. 3 years ago today, blood work in the ER confirmed a parent’s worst fears. Our kid had cancer. Our kid had T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia. Our kid needed surgery immediately for port placement and to start his first chemotherapy. The days that followed were filled with so much emotion and information we couldn’t seem to be able to process. It seemed like the mountain we had to climb was impossible.

But we did it. Leo did it. We spent the next two and a half years fighting for our son’s life. But while it was, without comparison, the hardest season we’ve had to endure, it was also an incredible experience. We, as a family, have made so many lasting memories, friendships, and connections that would likely not have occurred otherwise. We have all gained a different perspective on life and love and gratitude. I still meet people daily that have told me they prayed for us and still are. They ask about Leo and our family. There was and is so much love and support and we are forever grateful.

So here we are now, about 8 months off treatment. No port. No extra medications. It is wonderful and terrifying. Leo still has oncology clinic once a month where his blood is drawn and he is examined. That does provide some peace of mind, but the thoughts of our lives being thrown back into chaos always loom. We beg this never happens again, but in the meantime we live our lives fully.

Leo is doing amazing. He is finishing up his 6th grade year and doing amazingly. He’s maintained all A’s the entire year in addition to continuing his active status in Beta Club. Perhaps the biggest post cancer event (at least in Leo’s opinion) is returning to contact sports. He has dabbled back in jiu jitsu and while we wish there were more hours in the day, he can’t go as often as he’d like. This is because of football. Literally the first full contact football experience he could sign up for, he did. He has been participating in spring training with the Yulee Middle School football team. There was some trepidation at first (from him and me), but now his feet are wet and he’s all in. He’s onto summer training and official try outs for the team later in summer.

Between our two kids school events and sports, our own personal extracurriculars, and full time jobs, we don’t stop. We are everywhere all the time. And I have to say, I am loving every minute of it and am so grateful. It is such a privilege that we can all do all the things we want. I love taking it all in even if it is hectic and crazy. It’s the best kind of crazy.

Leo never ceases to amaze us. I don’t think he ever will. He meets surpasses all of our expectations. I imagine, Lily will always be his number 1 fan. I will never tire of people asking about him so I can rave.

Thank you all for loving us. Thank you for loving our boy. Thanks for hanging in there with us. Grace is all around and we’ve experienced this time and again. We love you all. Here’s praying for continued good health for our guy. Let’s keep rolling.

02/25/2025

Oh hey ! Looks who’s out here livin his best life OFF CHEMO! 🥋🏈💙🎗️

01/02/2025

❤️💙🏈🎗️

01/02/2025

Take a look at our boy! With the Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc. Dream Team. He will represent again tonight at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on field during the 1st quarter! We will all be there so come say hi! 👋🏻❤️🏈💙🎗️

12/02/2024

I get to look at our beautiful boy all month long. Seeing how this was made over a year ago, some updates are in order:

Leo is an 11 year old 6th grade middle schooler. He was diagnosed in May 2022 and COMPLETED his treatment and RANG THE BELL in September 2024. He is thriving in school as well as at home, living life to the fullest! He’s back to jiu jitsu (🙌🏻) and continues to rock football! Thank you for always praying and thinking of us!!! 🧡🧡🧡

09/25/2024

Thank you Amber Greg Nissen for our shirts. They fit his victory perfectly!

09/25/2024

09/21/2024

We had the BEST morning. It was full of smiles, sweat, and 80s swag. I really find it so hard to find the right words to say to show gratitude as anything I think of really doesn’t seem enough. I truly cannot say thank you enough, truly, deeply, meaningfully to everyone who showed up today. Of course this support is for such a wonderful organization, Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc., but I also know you showed up for our boy. You took time out of your lives and your schedules for Leo. Thank you. We feel it. I cannot wait to share about his day next week when he rings that bell. For now-enjoy some pictures from today and please feel free to throw your own in the comments!

09/19/2024

Happy Thursday y’all! I wanted to check in with some helpful info ahead of the 5k this weekend! We cannot wait to see and spend some time with you all and we are so GRATEFUL to everyone who has signed up to come walk/run with us and to those who have donated. We are seriously overwhelmed! Ok some points of interest:

-The walk/run starts at 8am BUT registration/packet pick up and the field area opens at 7–get there a bit early to park, grab your packet (if not already done Friday), use the restroom, and settle in for opening ceremonies (745).

-Race packet pickup is tomorrow (Friday), BUT if you don’t pick it up tomorrow you CAN get it the morning of the 5K. You just need to plan to be there early to get it (starting at 7)!!

-If you have a Team Leo shirt, we’d love you to wear it in support of our guy. But please note: the theme for the run is the 80s! So please dress it up or wear anything and everything to represent the 80s!!! I also will bring my box of remaining Leo shirts for anyone who may want one and the remaining ones may actually fit.

-We will have a Team Leo tent area. It won’t have anything special activity wise, but it will act as a central location for us to meet and for anyone to drop anything they don’t want to carry. It will also have a couple chairs and maybe a blanket.

-Parking is different this year. If you came last year you likely parked in the arena parking garage. However, this year there is a designated lot for 5k attendees. There
Will be signage but you can see where to park via the website.

Can’t wait to see you all!!!

09/02/2024

Happy September friends. We hope you all are hanging strong through this year as it certainly is flying by fast. But checking in with yall now is especially important, as September is big for MANY reasons.

First, September is childhood cancer awareness month. 🎗️ Childhood cancer is one of the most unfair and vicious diseases of them all. First off, cancer of any kind is completely and utterly devastating. But for this to happen to kids who haven’t even had a chance to enjoy growing up or become who they are going to be!?! It ruins lives of not only innocent children, but their families and friends. It then ripples into the community and affects us all. And of course, unfortunately we too often see the overlapping of different families affected. Awareness is so important to help identify the signs of the disease but also to identify and shed light on the relative lack of research and treatments available. This is a whooollleeeee issue but we will move on to something more positive…

September is a HUGE month for us, for Leo. Why, you ask? Because Leo finishes treatment!!!!!!! 🎉 Yep. You read that right. Leo rings the bell at the end of the month. Seriously, can yall believe that? It’s been around 2 1/2 years since he was diagnosed and has been on frontline treatment. It’s been a long time but a flash all at the same time. Leo got his last IV chemo last week and takes his last steroid tonight. He still has oral chemo daily this month until the end of the month but then THATS IT! Yes, he will still have to go to the clinic monthly for quite a while to get checks, but those are easy blood draws. I really cannot wait to see our boy off all these meds! It seems so surreal and it does seem difficult to truly believe or trust at times. Those moments are just those-moments-and we have to celebrate this huge win and keep being freaking grateful we are here. 🧡

Now, let’s talk about this 5k again. 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️ Remember how I mentioned how Leo was an ambassador for the Dreams Come True Walk Run or Stroll 5K this year? Well that’s this month! Let’s go Team Leo! Let’s show up for not only our boy Leo, but all the other kids affected by stupid unfair childhood illnesses. Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc. really has been a wonderful resource for us throughout this journey and continues to be a bright spot for so many kids who face almost nothing but dark days. We really would love to spend time with any and every one who is able and take the time to celebrate, in a small way, Leo’s victory on this journey. It was such a fun event last year, with a family friendly atmosphere and no pressure to be a runner ☺️ (Thank goodness)! I just want to feel all the Leo love. I will attach the link to join our team, Team Leo, below. And even if you don’t want to physically come, donations are always welcome. 🧡

We plan to get plenty of photos the day that Leo rings the bell and I will bring them here so you can all see. I hope to plan some other sort of celebration a bit down the road once he has officially finished treatment and we get through the “what’s next” phase. I will, of course, keep you all posted! Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support.

Leo is going to keep rolling.
Let’s keep rolling with him.




https://p2p.onecause.com/dreamscometrue5k/team/team-leo-4