Shelly Lucio
Sponsor: Mercy Springs Foundation

Kansas
Weston (Age 11)
Leukemia

At 8 years old, Weston of Overland Park, Kan., suddenly began tiring easily and had a fever that wouldn’t go away. His parents took him to the doctor just to have him checked out. Shockingly, Weston was admitted to the ICU at Children’s Mercy Hospital the next day. He had juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a very rare type, and his only hope was a bone marrow transplant. Weston had several rounds of chemotherapy until a donor match was found, and he received the transplant on Thanksgiving Day.

Weston, now 11, uses his experiences to help other children with similar challenges. He once met a young girl at a Radiothon event who was just beginning cancer treatment. Weston sensed this girl was scared and anxious, so he comforted her by sharing his own story of leukemia.

“I’ve been through it and it’s hard, but once you go through it and everything is done it will just be a memory. You just think, Wow, it’s over. I can’t believe it’s over,” Weston said. “Just think positive. There are so many challenges; it’s just another challenge in your life.” Thankfully, Weston achieved full recovery and cancer is just a memory in the past.