Hayley Thomson

2/3/03-12/19/04

Dx: AML Leukemia

Treatment: Chemotherapy, total-body irradiation, cord blood transplant

Hayley loved painting, chasing her kitty cats and dancing to Barney!

Hayley Elizabeth Thomson was diagnosed with AML leukemia on February 25, 2004, shortly after her first birthday. AML leukemia, the more aggressive of the two forms of leukemia, is acute, fast growing and more common in adults than in children. Hayley was admitted to the AFLAC Cancer Center for her care and treatment. For months, Hayley was a model patient, entering remission by April and suffering little to no side effects from the intense chemotherapy she received. She took hospital life in stride, and celebrated many of her firsts there -including walking and talking. Surprising to everyone, Hayley relapsed in the skin and bone marrow on July 9th, two weeks short of completing her therapy. She was never to reach a solid remission again, despite numerous chemotherapy and experimental protocols. Her relapses were fast and furious, and included cancer hiding in her spinal fluid and stomach. Knowing time was of the essence, we quickly moved forward with a cord blood transplant on November 4th. Hayley received intense chemo and total body irradiation prior to the actual transplant, but it wasn’t enough. She relapsed 14 days later, with 23 percent cancer in her blood. On December 19th, Hayley received her much deserved rest and went home to be with her Heavenly Father, cancer-free at last.