Honored Kid Quincy was born in Malaysia to two American teachers working at a school in the capital of Kuala Lumpur. She loved the tropical life — swimming, hiking and traveling around Asia with her mom, dad and big brother. Then, at just 4 years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. That’s when everything changed.
Quincy’s brother, Carter, on the left, her mom, Dante, and her dad, Richard, with Quincy on his knee.
Quincy had been lethargic, battling a cough and mouth sores that wouldn’t go away, despite days at the hospital and bottles of antibiotics. The third doctor to see Quincy knew the little girl needed something more than penicillin, so she sent mother and daughter to the place she thought could help.
Quincy’s mom, Dante, a biology teacher in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had only been to the city’s cancer research hospital on field trips with her students.
“It was kind of surreal to drive into that hospital with Quincy, thinking, ‘Why did she send us here?’,” she said.
That doctor had told Dante to hope that Quincy had Dengue fever. Dante was confused. What could possibly be worse than that?
It was leukemia, and unfortunately, the doctor couldn’t tell Quincy’s parents much more than that.
Quincy and her brother with their parents on her first day of preschool in Malaysia.
In San Francisco, St. Baldrick’s researcher Dr. Mignon Loh was ready for Quincy.
The little girl’s grandfather had contacted UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital for help and Dr. Loh quickly became Dante’s lifeline both in Malaysia and when they arrived in the States.
“Dr. Loh actually called me in Malaysia. I was very conflicted about what to do, because we’d lived there for 10 years. I had a son who was just 6 and I didn’t know what to do with him,” Dante said.
Read about an exciting effort between Dr. Loh and researchers across the country to help kids with leukemia >
Dr. Loh answered Dante’s questions and explained what Quincy needed for treatment. Just days later, Quincy, her mom and her grandmother were on a plane from Kuala Lumpur to San Francisco, leaving her dad and her 6-year-old brother behind. Quincy was admitted into the hospital that night.
Dr. Loh shaved her head with St. Baldrick’s right before Quincy began losing her hair to treatment. Quincy is passionate about fundraising for St. Baldrick’s so Dr. Loh can find a cure for other kids with cancer.
Within 24 hours, the doctors at UCSF had pinpointed the type of leukemia Quincy had — it was acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.
They had also found a genetic mutation that causes her to metabolize a certain medication differently than other kids, so the dosage needs to be carefully controlled. Because of a lack of testing, doctors in Malaysia wouldn’t have detected that genetic abnormality, putting her liver and immune system at risk.
“It was very obvious that we had done the right thing,” Dante said, explaining the stark difference between the care in the U.S. and Malaysia. “It was also completely devastating to leave.”
Bright and inquisitive, Quincy likes to figure out how things work, including her own cancer treatments. During her first year of therapy, she often set up cancer clinics for her toys, flushing their ports and taking their vitals.
Quincy is now in remission, but is still doing maintenance treatment for a few more months. Her big brother, Carter, is with her in California, while their dad continues to work in Malaysia.
“That’s hard. Each time it gets harder on the kids. They realize how hard it is to say goodbye to him every time,” Dante said. “But he’ll be here in two months and we kind of count down on the calendar.”
They’re looking at options to reunite their family, but for now the current situation is best, though it’s tough.
Quincy sits in the middle of her family. Her brother, Carter, on the left, her dad, Richard, and her mom, Dante.
Next month, September, will be Quincy’s two-year diagnosis anniversary. It also happens to be Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Quincy is all about raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research by beading her little heart out.
“When she wasn’t feeling well and we were trying to occupy her in the hospital, somebody had sent her a beading set, just some wooden beads and string, and she loved it. So we just started buying her beads,” Dante said.
Soon enough, all of Quincy’s doctors and nurses had beaded necklaces and keychains. Then, Quincy’s dad came to visit in the spring.
“She’d been making these wine charms and he said, ‘You know, I think these could sell with all the ex-pats, because they drink a lot of wine.’ So he took back about 50 sets and he made about $700,” Dante said.
It took off from there and Quincy’s Fabulous Beads St. Baldrick’s fundraiser was born.
Quincy loves beading and can do most of the work herself. Usually Dante just needs to cut the string.
“It’s helped her and it’s certainly helped our family. It feels like we’re doing something good and we’re putting all this anxious, sad energy into something positive,” Dante said. “I think it helped her feel that she’s not such a victim, that she can do something.”
In November, right before her sixth birthday, Quincy will be done with her treatment. She’s struggled with painful neuropathy in her legs and other challenges, but thanks to advances in research into ALL, Quincy has a good prognosis. Her mom is grateful.
“It has done horrible things for her and our family, but at least we are going to have her life,” Dante said. “That’s definitely kept us going, knowing that we just have to get through this.”
Next month is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. But you don’t have to wait until September to help kids like Quincy — fund research today.
Read more about kids with ALL on the St. Baldrick’s blog:
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