#GraysonStrong
To be friends with the Aikens family, means you are blessed with four very caring people in your life.
Sadly, on Sunday, May 3, the ground fell out from under them.
For days, Sonia & Leo’s 8 year old son, Grayson, complained of a sore arm/shoulder. When it got to the point where Grayson couldn’t ride his brand new bike he loved so much, they knew something was up. They called the doctor and they ordered an X-ray. It showed nothing. Maybe a chiropractor could help? The chiropractor said it oddly looked like frozen shoulder. When the doctor read this, it got her attention. They both knew frozen shoulder doesn’t usually occur in children.
The doctor consulted with an orthopaedic surgeon who ordered bloodwork and an ultrasound.
Sunday night they received a phone call. Sonia writes, “She said that the results came back from the ultrasound and blood work. That the ultra sound came back clear. But the bloodwork showed some things that were concerning. I was writing everything down on the whiteboard in the kitchen (so Leo could read it). Anemic. Blood cell count low. Infection. Blast Cells. And then I wrote the words ‘only present when cancer is present unless proven otherwise’. I re-read what I wrote. And I don’t remember much after that.” She was told to go to SAH immediately and that paediatrics would be waiting for her.
When she arrived at SAH, Sonia was told that her little boy had Leukemia. Still in shock, Sonia and Grayson were flown to London that same night. The next day, after further testing and a bone marrow biopsy, Grayson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Grayson had his first chemo treatment today, May7. For those who don’t know chemo is usually given in phases and the overall treatment for ALL itself can take 2 to 4 years.
With COVID being another stressor, it almost makes it impossible for extended family and friends to physically be there for them.
The Ronald MacDonald House is closed during COVID which is where they would stay between treatment phases but this is not an option. Leo and Solana will be travelling back and forth between phases as only one caregiver can be with Grayson in the hospital during these treatments.
The Aikens Family has a long road ahead of them and everyone who loves them would rather them focus their worry on their children/family rather than expenses.
Leo and Sonia will both be taking steps away from their work but travel, food, and bills in both places will still be there. Any donation made, big or small, will help them keep their focus on their family.
For the rest of the days ahead, I know that this family will cry, this family will laugh, this family will feel A LOT. But let me tell you, when you’ve got a team like these four and parents like these two, watch out! NOTHING will bring them down. Stay strong my friends. #GraysonStrong. You got this.
Love,
The Fleming’s (Rachel, Ryan, Grey & Grifin)
Written on behalf of Sonia & Leo’s family