Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, Jesse Owens 5K, 1 Mile & Kids Run

Hometown:  Lewis Center, OH
Age on Race Day:  9
Diagnosis:  Acute Myeloid Leukemia

When Anna’s eyes became swollen and puffy, her parents gave her allergy medication and made an appointment with their primary care physician. Expecting the cause to be something simple, Anna and her parents were shocked when lab results indicated leukemia.

Upon the advice of their doctor to go immediately to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, they were quickly admitted and learned more about Anna’s full diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or AML, and began the long journey to recovery.

Anna’s treatment was to be dictated by the bone marrow biopsy results and her initial response to chemotherapy those first few months. It was determined that she would need five rounds of IV chemotherapy, each round included an experimental oral medication that was part of a clinical trial for AML.

Every round was completely inpatient and consisted of 10 days of IV chemotherapy, followed by about one week of waiting for her white blood cell counts to drop to zero and then work back up so she would be safe to leave the hospital. During this time, her hemoglobin and platelets also dropped, often requiring blood and platelet transfusions.

On December 22, 2022, Anna rang the milestone bell signifying the end of her five cycles of chemotherapy. Just two months later, she developed bilateral tibial fractures from disuse due to her long hospital stays. She has since graduated from physical therapy and though she is still seen in several departments due to the effects of the chemotherapy, Anna is doing wonderfully. She loves dancing, playing softball, and spending time with her Girl Scout troop.