Derrick & His Families Courageous Battle Against AML

Brendan and Valerie White, parents to Derrick Oliver White, learned on December 18, 2024, that their beautiful and otherwise healthy 16-month-old son Derrick was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

After several weeks with a swollen eye and several visits to the pediatrician for cold symptoms, a sudden onset of lethargic behavior was the ‘final straw’. Valerie and Brendan, along with Derrick’s 4-year-old brother Holden, rushed him to the ER. There, they were given a preliminary diagnosis of pneumonia and anemia. They were promptly transferred to another hospital that was better equipped to care for their son.

After further scans, they were heartbroken to discover that Derrick had leukemia; upon being admitted, he had a rare condition which caused masses of leukemia cells to form on his brain, pancreas, spleen, liver, and behind his eye. As a result of this diagnosis Derrick was treated with three rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and will be the recipient of a stem cell transplant. Derrick's father, Brendan, has been chosen to be the donor.

As you can imagine, the White family is incurring significant medical expenses, loss of work due to patient care, and respectfully request your help. As of now, the inpatient treatment for Derrick is at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester, NY. Which is expected to last through July with an additional 6-8 months of outpatient treatment, so there is a long road ahead. The White family is humbled and truly thankful for your support!

Sincerely,
Brendan