Help Antonio And The Herrera Family Fight Leukemia

Dear Family and Friends of Antonio,

A week before his 18th birthday, Antonio received a diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML). APML is a rare subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The statistics for the APML subtype account for only 7-8% of all leukemias. This type of leukemia is an extremely aggressive and fast-progressing cancer. Within 24 hours, the amazing team at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas admitted Antonio to the oncology unit, diagnosed this rare subtype, and formed his treatment plan.

He is receiving medication that includes chemotherapy and targeted therapy for APML at the hospital for the next month. Tomorrow, on 01/22/2024 Antonio will celebrate his 18th birthday in the hospital, his only wish being to be well at home.

Antonio’s platelet level continues to be dangerously low, increasing his risk for bleeding. Due to his diagnosis and drug regimen, Antonio is on neutropenic precautions meaning he would not be able to fight an infection due to a weakened immune system. He will eventually need blood and additional platelet transfusions while under close observation in the oncology unit.

Antonio is a sweet and gentle teenager. He enjoys playing video games, writing poetry, and is part of the Forney High School Band. He has an enormous heart and is always willing to help others. Antonio is on track to graduate in the spring of this year and attend College in the fall majoring in English and minoring in computer science.

As one might assume, the financial burden of in-patient treatment for Leukemia is enormous. Antonio’s mother Juanita has not left his side and father Tony and brother Ayden are traveling back and forth to the hospital from Forney. Antonio’s sister Ceci is traveling from Waco to Dallas to be with her brother and family. This funding site aims to relieve any amount of financial burden. The family is grateful and blessed to receive any amount of financial assistance no matter how small that anyone offers!