Kindergarten student wages brave battle with leukemia Hunter Stedman, January 14, 2025 ANN FISH Special to RockinghamNow REIDSVILLE – Five-year-old Sawyer Wilson was enjoyng his first year in kindergarten at Reidsville’s Legacy Classical Academy in September when his mother, Taylor, got a call he had a low-grade fever. She immediately took him to the doctor because he had been having random symptoms that “didn’t make much sense and I couldn’t figure out what was going on.” Sawyer had fevers for several days. One day, he had a “very long nosebleed” at school and complained of joint pains and couldn’t do simple things like getting dressed. On Oct. 6, when Sawyer’s symptoms spiked dramatically, Taylor was anxious to get him to his doctor’s appointment the next day. Sawyer’s father Bobby accompanied them to the doctor’s office in Greensboro. Then, they were instructed to go to Cone’s Pediatric Department because his lab tests were not registering properly. People are also reading… Once there, a “slew of tests for everything under the sun” were run; Sawyer’s white blood count was extremely high. The parents heard the diagnosis they already were dreading. Sawyer has leukemia. With his mother at this side, the child was immediately taken by ambulance to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem. With both parents involved in the medical field, they already were suspicious, but the exact diagnosis still came as a shock. A 2010 Rockingham County High School graduate, the former Taylor James pursued nursing, earning a master’s degree in 2021 from Maryville University. For the past 10 years, she worked at Cone Health where she now is a nursing professional development specialist. Bobby also graduated from RCHS a year after Taylor, and earned his emergency medical technician degree from Rockingham Community College. He now is an engineering technician for the Department of Transportation in Reidsville. Since being admitted to Brenner on Oct. 7, Sawyer has only been home nine nights although he still had to see doctors for clinics and surgery during that time. He was in the hospital for Halloween, Thanksgiving, his birthday on Dec. 6, and Christmas. Currently in Round 3 of chemo, Sawyer has undergone many bone marrow biopsies and “lumbar punctures,” Sawyer interjected when his mother was detailing his treatments. He also had multiple IVs and feeding tubes, and has been in the pediatric intermediate and intensive care units when he became sicker. Through it all, Sawyer has been very “brave and very strong for all the things he has endured at his young age,” Taylor said. He even explains many of his diagnoses and medical terms to other family members and visitors. Sawyer says he misses his “Sissy”, 2 year-old Amelia most, but also hates he can’t accompany his daddy to the Monroeton Fire Department where he is chief. Taylor’s mother, Tracey Carter, cares for Amelia while her mother stays with Sawyer. A teacher at the hospital works with Sawyer to help him with his classwork. “He’s been so sick, he hasn’t been able to do much, but has worked with her several times,” Taylor said. Before being hospitalized, the little boy could not swallow pills but now takes M&M-sized oral chemo therapy tablets every day he’s not on chemo. He has finished his most recent round of chemo, but is waiting for his white blood cell count to stabilize. He then will go to Duke Hospital for a bone marrow transplant and will remain at Duke for another 100 days. Taylor already spends every day and night in her son’s room and will continue that at Duke. Bobby comes each night, commuting every day from work. This gives him time with his son who loves building magnet projects and Legos. “We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love on our family during the past three and a half months since Sawyer’s diagnosis of leukemia,” Taylor said. “As you can imagine this has been an extremely hard journey for our family. We are thankful for our community that has come together to provide us the love and support during this time.” With Taylor spending every day with her son at the hospital and working remotely when she can, the couple’s bills are piling up. Within the past week, they began receiving Sawyer’s medical bills not covered by insurance. They also have to worry about other extras such as Bobby’s gas back and forth every day and eating in the cafeteria or nearby restaurants. Justin Smith and his family who comprise Declaration Worship are concerned about the family’s finances. Smith organized a benefit concert with his family and the Down East Boys at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at Growing Oaks Community Church, U.S. 158, Reidsville. All proceeds from the event’s love offering will be donated to the Sawyer’s family. “We ask that you please continue to pray for Sawyer and our family as he continues his cancer journey,” Taylor concluded. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Source link Pet News causes of deathchemotherapyclinical medicinediseases and disordershealthhealth caremedical specialtiesmedicine