A fundraising appeal has been launched to support a Whitby family confronting an early relapse of childhood leukemia, said GoFundMe.
According to Amanda Dean, who organized the fundraiser, Jenna and Brian, parents of young Hendrix—initially diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on February 23, 2023—are now facing renewed challenges as their son battles aggressive cancer.
Hendrix began his cancer treatment with chemotherapy following his initial diagnosis. However, on Tuesday, January 7, while being taken to SickKids Hospital for what was expected to be his sixth round of maintenance therapy, his blood work revealed that the cancer had returned. The family learned that Hendrix had experienced an early relapse, occurring in less than two years since his first diagnosis, read the fundraising page.
According to an update from his mother, Jenna Devlin, Hendrix entered re-induction with 91 per cent cancer in his bone marrow. After completing re-induction on February 10, he still had 20 per cent cancer presence, qualifying him for CAR T-cell therapy—a specialized immunotherapy treatment. However, subsequent chemotherapy did not yield the desired results, and Hendrix’s cancer levels increased to 80 per cent in his bone marrow within a month. He has since started a targeted immunotherapy drug called inotuzumab, as his cancer has shown resistance to traditional chemotherapy.
Both Jenna and Brian remain off work without income, struggling with the financial burden of maintaining their home while living in Toronto for Hendrix’s treatment. “Hendrix and I haven’t been home in over 65 days now,” Jenna said, describing the emotional and financial toll of their journey.
Supporters are encouraged to contribute to the fundraising appeal to assist the family with mounting expenses associated with Hendrix’s treatment and related care. For more information on how to help, visit the fundraising page.