Hometown: Blacklick, OH
Age on Race Day: 9
Diagnosis: Burkitt Leukemia
It was Halloween night, 2021, and Quentin, 4 years old at the time, spiked a fever. His parents, Brent and Lindsey, couldn’t find a reason for the fever and as it persisted, they grew concerned. They brought Quentin to his pediatrician for follow up and when the doctor found a lump under his right ear, they were transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Just a few days later, Quentin received an official diagnosis: Burkitt leukemia, a rare, aggressive type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that affects the blood and bone marrow. That same day, he was fitted with a port and began his first round of chemotherapy. Quentin would go on to spend 70 days inpatient over a four-month period, covering Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and his sister’s birthday.
“Throughout his treatment, the care Quentin received from the nurses and doctors was fantastic,” says Lindsey. “In the worst moments, we knew we were in the right place at Nationwide Children’s.”
Early in his treatment, Quentin had a seizure. The eventual cause was determined to be from a leukemia-fighting medication called methotrexate, but in the moment, he and his parents were terrified.
“The fast reaction of the doctors and nurses was impressive,” recalls Lindsey of that scary time. “We knew he had the absolute best care.”
Quentin is now in the maintenance phase of his care. His port came out April 22, 2022, and he’s thriving. He’s enjoying second grade and being back to his favorite hobbies again, like mountain biking, playing chess, and building Legos.
