Caleb, 3 years old, was complaining of leg and arm pain in August of 2007. Although there was no visible fracture on the x-ray, Caleb was put in casts on his right arm and right leg. A few days later his left leg hurt. Finally, blood work was ordered which revealed our worst nightmare, leukemia.
10 days after Caleb's diagnosis, he was further diagnosed as an ultra high-risk case, called Hypodiploid ALL. This sub-type of leukemia is extremely rare with only 8 to 10 diagnoses per year with a success rate of only 15% to 20%. Caleb was immediately placed on a protocol that included a bone marrow transplant, total body radiation, and numerous chemotherapy treatments. He received his transplant at Duke University in November of 2007.
The transplant was best described as textbook. Caleb engrafted his new cells in record time and had minimal side effects from the chemotherapy and total body radiation. Caleb and his family had to relocate to Durham, NC for over 4 months to receive his treatment.
Unfortunately, Caleb relapsed on March 10, 2008, just 4 days after returning home to Florida from Durham, NC. There is no protocol for a patient who has relapsed so close to having had a bone marrow transplant. As a family, we were forced to place our 3-year-old son in Hospice Care and pray for a Miracle.
As the days went by, Caleb's family let him enjoy his life the best he could. He played on his swing most of the time. Caleb's parents had to endure the hardship of knowing that any day could be his last. Caleb would always tell them "I'll be okay," which was very hard for them to hear their 4-year old saying these words while knowing nothing about death. Caleb's strength may have come from his favorite superhero, Spiderman, "With great powers comes great responsibility." Caleb had about 15 good days from the time of relapse.
On March 27, 2008, Caleb's doctor ordered an MRI for some pain issues. Caleb had to go under general anesthesia for the MRI. While in the MRI Caleb's oxygen saturation dropped and he was placed on a respirator. The doctors told Caleb's parents that when they pulled the tube he would not be able to breathe on his own. They made the decision to pull the tube and let God's will be done. Caleb, to the doctors surprise, was able to breathe on his own and his parents were able to take him home.
Once Caleb was home, his breathing was very shallow. Caleb's family huddled around him to pray, to try to get him to talk, open his eyes and smile. There were some moments where he was responsive to the attempts, one of which was extremely special to Caleb's dad, Rob. Rob was by his side and said to Caleb "I love you Caleb" but there was no reply. He moved a little closer and told him "I love you, Baby." Caleb opened his eyes, looked at him and whispered "yuv you." Those were his last words.
Through the night Monique,Caleb's mother, laid by his side, listening to him breathe and praying for a miracle. At 2:30 that morning, Monique woke up looked at Caleb, and told him "I love you." She began to pray to God and asked, "God if you can not heal my son at this moment and make him cancer free than I beg you to please take him and have him suffer no more." On March 28, 2008, at 4:30 AM, Caleb took his last breath lying next to his mother and went to be with God.
This was only 11 short days after his 4th birthday.
10 days after Caleb's diagnosis, he was further diagnosed as an ultra high-risk case, called Hypodiploid ALL. This sub-type of leukemia is extremely rare with only 8 to 10 diagnoses per year with a success rate of only 15% to 20%. Caleb was immediately placed on a protocol that included a bone marrow transplant, total body radiation, and numerous chemotherapy treatments. He received his transplant at Duke University in November of 2007.
The transplant was best described as textbook. Caleb engrafted his new cells in record time and had minimal side effects from the chemotherapy and total body radiation. Caleb and his family had to relocate to Durham, NC for over 4 months to receive his treatment.
Unfortunately, Caleb relapsed on March 10, 2008, just 4 days after returning home to Florida from Durham, NC. There is no protocol for a patient who has relapsed so close to having had a bone marrow transplant. As a family, we were forced to place our 3-year-old son in Hospice Care and pray for a Miracle.
As the days went by, Caleb's family let him enjoy his life the best he could. He played on his swing most of the time. Caleb's parents had to endure the hardship of knowing that any day could be his last. Caleb would always tell them "I'll be okay," which was very hard for them to hear their 4-year old saying these words while knowing nothing about death. Caleb's strength may have come from his favorite superhero, Spiderman, "With great powers comes great responsibility." Caleb had about 15 good days from the time of relapse.
On March 27, 2008, Caleb's doctor ordered an MRI for some pain issues. Caleb had to go under general anesthesia for the MRI. While in the MRI Caleb's oxygen saturation dropped and he was placed on a respirator. The doctors told Caleb's parents that when they pulled the tube he would not be able to breathe on his own. They made the decision to pull the tube and let God's will be done. Caleb, to the doctors surprise, was able to breathe on his own and his parents were able to take him home.
Once Caleb was home, his breathing was very shallow. Caleb's family huddled around him to pray, to try to get him to talk, open his eyes and smile. There were some moments where he was responsive to the attempts, one of which was extremely special to Caleb's dad, Rob. Rob was by his side and said to Caleb "I love you Caleb" but there was no reply. He moved a little closer and told him "I love you, Baby." Caleb opened his eyes, looked at him and whispered "yuv you." Those were his last words.
Through the night Monique,Caleb's mother, laid by his side, listening to him breathe and praying for a miracle. At 2:30 that morning, Monique woke up looked at Caleb, and told him "I love you." She began to pray to God and asked, "God if you can not heal my son at this moment and make him cancer free than I beg you to please take him and have him suffer no more." On March 28, 2008, at 4:30 AM, Caleb took his last breath lying next to his mother and went to be with God.
This was only 11 short days after his 4th birthday.
Caleb Robert Whan
March 17th, 2004 ~ March 28th, 2008
