Brave and Bright, Abby Is Taking On Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

At the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 8-year-old Abby and her family fill her room with light and hope as she takes on the most common childhood cancer.

Abby hated the word “blood.” She much preferred flowers.

Unfortunately, Abby’s diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) meant that the 8-year-old and her family would have to think about blood a lot.

When the kind lab techs prepared to draw her blood, Abby winced. She hadn’t forgotten the time a previous blood draw had hurt, but with her mom at her side, she was brave. And before she knew it, the procedure was done.

The news that Abby and her family got on that summer day was good. Abby’s counts were high enough for her to begin a new round of treatment. Her mom, Kim, gave her an enthusiastic high-five. The family was relieved and excited to be moving forward with the fight.

Two days later, the Boone family was up before 5 a.m. They arrived at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center long before their 8 a.m. appointment, anxious to get started. Abby met a calming nurse who checked her vitals and then met Rachel Segneri, a Physical Therapist at Children's.

Abby was more than a patient. She was also a brave helper. She was participating in a research study to measure the effect of certain physical exercises on long-term outcomes.

Abby performed some stretches and then marched in place as her parents watched and cheered her on.

Checking into “Hotel Aflac”

Melinda Pauly, MD, a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist and Medical Director at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital, briefed the Boones on Abby’s treatment schedule. Dr. Pauly had good news: “We have an official off-therapy date for you. You’ll be done July 14.” Until then, Abby would visit the clinic each week and spend every other week in inpatient treatment. Next, she would wind down to monthly visits.

Affecting the white blood cells, ALL is the most common cancer in children; however, it has a relatively high cure rate and Abby’s prognosis was good.

The Boone family started calling the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center “Hotel Aflac.” Room 182 of the hotel was starting to look homey.

Abby’s mom had brought in food, blankets and crafts to make things easier, and Abby started to decorate her door and her window with flowers.

For a while, she could stop thinking about blood. She made a decoration for her wall, writing down the phrase “Cancer can’t bloom here—only flowers can.”