When she was in hospital for long periods for frontline leukemia treatment, 4-year-old Bryleigh would stay active by riding her scooter down the hallways. 

Bryleigh presented with a rash leading up to her diagnosis. Seeing the severity of the rash, her mom first took her to urgent care and then the emergency room.

On April 7, 2024, Bryleigh’s family received the devastating news…

Their sweet Bryleigh was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The first three months post-diagnosis were the hardest, they had so many questions and things felt so uncertain. Bryleigh started treatment immediately and she battled multiple infections. She also endured intestinal perforation, port replacement, extended chemotherapy, and many weeks in hospital. 

Then, the delayed intensification (DI) phase of treatment brought new challenges. As a side effect of DI chemotherapy, she struggled with her weight and loss of appetite. For a period of time, she became extremely thin, but her family and care team worked hard to keep her stable and get her stronger every day.

On her treatment journey so far, this little cancer-fighting superstar has received 53 IV chemotherapy infusions, 14 doses of IV chemotherapy, 52 days of continuous chemo infusion, 189 doses of oral chemo, and so many other pokes, prods, and procedures. 

Long hospital stays were hard as she would cry about not being able to see family, go to the park, or go home. Bryleigh understands she has cancer and would ask her parents “why?” – they wish they had the answers.

In spite of everything she has been through, she always maintains her smile and fights so bravely. Together, Bryleigh and her family have learned to stay present, face each battle as it comes, and take the joy and victory in the small things.

On May 8, Bryleigh hit a much-awaited treatment milestone… she reached the maintenance phase of treatment!

It was a marathon to get to that point, taking exactly 1 year and 1 month. To her family, hitting maintenance means that they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Bryleigh is excited to start school next year and experience more normalcy in her life.

Bryleigh’s parents are sharing their family’s story to speak up for the importance of childhood cancer research.

They told us, “Childhood cancer is not talked about enough and research is drastically underfunded. We need better treatments for our most vulnerable patients, to give kids the best chance of long-term survival with the least number of side-effects.”

Right now, Bryleigh is able to spend less time in hospital and more time just being a kid. She loves playing outside and riding her bike. Staying active has always helped keep her fighting spirit strong.

Bryleigh, you inspire us to ride as hard as we can this September! This is for you!