Sydney's Story: "Life Came Crashing Down on Us"

Sydney (left) and Ashley Davis   Today, I can watch my daughter play softball. I can watch both of my daughters struggle with homework and complain about hair. These may seem like everyday encounters, but in the last year I didn’t know if we would be able to experience these simple joys of parenting. In spring 2012, our 13-year-old daughter, Sydney, was diagnosed with leukemia. Life as we knew it came crashing down on all of us. I was very scared. Sydney immediately started chemo treatments, but within two months, we were told Sydney needed to have a bone marrow transplant. Now I wasn’t just scared, I was terrified. We met with the team at Children’s National to prepare for the transplant. From the moment I met Dr. David Jacobsohn, I knew we were in capable hands. As we continued to talk I remember feeling my anxiety lessen. Luckily, my brave daughter Ashley was a match. She didn’t hesitate to donate her bone marrow to help Sydney get better. They may never admit it, but I think they kind of like each other. Today, Sydney is in remission, playing softball, laughing at the dinner table with her kid sister, and just being a normal teen. I can’t thank Children’s enough for what they have done for my family, for giving me a chance to watch Sydney grow. We have a long road ahead, but I wouldn’t take the ride with anyone else.