Turning the Tide: Michael's Success in Overcoming Childhood Leukemia

When 6-year-old Michael came home from school with a fever in August 2023, his mother, Emily Frescas, wasn’t too worried. Kids come home sick all the time, and the family had already gone through one bout of sickness a few weeks earlier.

However, what seemed like a typical childhood illness quickly escalated into a medical emergency.

"Michael had been sent home from school, and it was just the second day of school,” Emily said. “He had been in Texas with my parents, so I thought he caught something there. But then he had a very strange nosebleed. We couldn't stop it.”

That severe nosebleed led to a quick trip to the OU Health Emergency Room and Urgent Care that Sunday morning. She had left her husband at home to watch her other two younger sons, but after initial tests, the ER doctor delivered shocking news. They suspected Michael had some type of cancer.

"Once they ran the blood work, the ER doctor asked to talk to me alone, and I kind of knew it wasn't going to be anything good,” she said. “She told me that she was pretty sure that he had some type of cancer. It became a mad dash to try to get somebody to be with my other kids, so my husband could come. I was in a state of shock.”

Moving Quickly to Start Treatment

Michael was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on Aug.20, 2023. ALL is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, causing the body to produce abnormal white blood cells. It progresses rapidly, which explains the sudden onset of Michael's symptoms.

According to OU Health pediatric hematologist oncologist Dr. Kisha Beg, M.D., assistant professor in the Section of Hematology/Onocology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, ALL is the most common type of childhood leukemia, caused by a cancer of the blood arising from abnormal cells in the bone marrow. ALL’s dangers include bruising, bleeding, severe infections and dangerously low hemoglobin.

“Prompt diagnosis and treatment of leukemia is important to reduce life-threatening infections and severe injury to organs from breakdown of leukemia cells,” Dr. Beg said.

Once the diagnosis was made, Michael began treatment that night on the pediatric oncology floor of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.

"By that evening, he was getting transfusions to try to get him to the point where he could have his surgery for his port placement and his spinal and bone marrow biopsy," Emily said. “Within 24 hours of diagnosis, Michael was receiving his first chemotherapy treatment. It was fast, and apparently that's really, really good. We were lucky that everything was done so quickly.”

The treatment plan for ALL is intensive and long-term. Michael's regimen involved weekly visits to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children for nine months, followed by a monthly schedule.

Michael received intensive chemotherapy, both oral and IV, for the first seven to eight months and required several spinal taps with chemotherapy.

“He will get about two to two-and-a-half years of treatment in total and be continued to follow very closely in our clinic for years to come,” said Dr. Beg. “We help monitor the leukemia coming back, but also monitor any long-term side effects from his chemotherapy.”

He will continue to receive treatment until his projected end date of December 2026, but also takes two different types of chemo medication at home on a regular basis.

“Oklahoma Children’s Hospital does actual genetic testing to look at cells to see if the standard treatment plan will most likely be successful," Emily said.

A Future That Looks Brighter

Fortunately, Michael's genetic factors were favorable, improving his long-term outlook. In fact, according to Dr. Beg, his prognosis is “very good.”

“Michael is a wonderful young boy. I have seen him grow immensely, both in strength and emotionally through his treatment,” Dr. Beg said. “He is very shy, kind, and very sweet”

The team approach to his care was also a major factor in his healing journey, his mother said.

“Dr. Beg always does his procedures, like when he has a lumbar procedure or anything like that,” said Emily. “I really like that they have that kind of team set up, just because I think it would be impossible with as many patients as they have to do it any other way.”

The side effects of chemotherapy presented additional challenges. Michael experienced neuropathy, which caused motor skill problems and problems with his balance and mobility. As the big brother of the family, Michael was “over the top” athletic. He was an avid swimmer, so the new limitations were things Michael had to adjust too.

To address these issues, Michael began physical therapy. His therapist, Candace Wilcher, has played a crucial role in his recovery.

“His physical therapist has just been amazing, and they now have a bond,” Emily said. “Candice has just been really, really amazing in getting him back to where we want him to be. Besides his running, nobody would even know that he ever had the struggles he had with his walking. She makes it fun, so his physical therapy is something he looks forward to. He thinks he's just going to go and play.”

Throughout this challenging journey, Michael has shown remarkable resilience.

"He's very much still himself," Emily said. "I don't think anybody on the outside would even know what he's going through. He is not a crier. He's definitely not okay with everything, either. But he's a fighter."

Looking ahead, Michael's treatment will continue for several more years. While the road is long, Emily remains hopeful.

"We're thankful he's at Jimmy Everest,” Emily said. “He's going monthly, but we will be able to go less often, and we're thankful for that."

The complex nature of treating childhood leukemia involves not just chemotherapy, but also ongoing monitoring, physical therapy and emotional support for the entire family, which is offered at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. While the journey is challenging, advancements in treatment protocols and comprehensive care approaches are giving children like Michael a fighting chance against this serious disease.

Request an appointment or referral to find out more about diagnostic tests and clinic visits for children's cancer care at Oklahoma Children's Hospital or call to speak with a specialist at (405) 271-4411 to learn more.