Honored Kid

Gavin Acheson

Age 18
Gavin Acheson Kid Photo

Location

Mettawa, IL, US

Diagnosis

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Date of Diagnosis

April 2016

Status

In remission

Treated At

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital

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My Story

On August 29, 2019 I got to finally ring the end of treatment bell after going through three and half years of chemo hell. 

I was diagnosed on August 19, 2016 with High Risk  Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia B-Cell. It took 3 bone marrow aspirations to finally get the correct diagnosis. My cancer diagnosis was added onto my already long list of medical conditions I’ve been battling  since I was four months old. 

 I was diagnosed with a rare form of Epilepsy as a baby called Infantile Spasms. I was basically having close to 100 seizures a day for the whole first year of my life. My seizures are now under better control today thanks to daily anti seizure medication.  

At 3 I was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. I also have a feeding tube to help me with all of my daily medications, and it was my lifeline for nutrition during my chemo treatment. I use a wheelchair for long distances due to being diagnosed with Osteonecrosis of my pelvis from the steroid treatment used to treat my Leukemia. 

After my treatment was done and my port was removed, the doctors found three lesions on my skull. The one on my right mastoid bone needed to be removed and biopsied. This past November I had surgery to remove my mastoid bone and had a titanium plate put in its place. The biopsy came back negative for Cancer!! The other two lesions on my right orbit bone are being monitored over the next year. 

This will be my third year being apart of St. Baldrick’s, I’m so honored to be apart of such an amazing organization and to continue to raise funds for cancer research. Thank you so much for helping out kids like me and for all of my friends that are still fighting this horrible battle and for my friends that have earned their angel wings.   

The Childhood Cancer Ripple Effect

Who's Honoring Me

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