Nolan
This is the story of Nolan:
"My name is Nolan. I am 6 years old," Nolan Hernandez began, "and I am a survivor." Diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia just a week after his 4th birthday, Nolan's journey through childhood cancer has been filled with challenges, hope, and resilience.
Nolan's parents noticed something was wrong when their energetic boy began losing his appetite, looking pale, and struggling to catch his breath. “As parents, we were shattered when we found out,” Nolan’s parents wrote. “We feared losing Nolan. Our world was now in isolation from the world and our new home would be the hospital.”
The diagnosis of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia was a blow, but the family rallied together. “We made the hospital comfy and full of fun decorations,” Nolan’s parents recalled. “Character bed sheets, toys, window clings, holiday decorations, and most of all, Nolan’s favorite night lights and worship items. We prayed a lot as a family.”
Nolan underwent multiple rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, but after two rounds, the cancer was still present in his bone marrow. “He required a life-saving bone marrow transplant,” Nolan’s family explained. By a miracle, his baby brother turned out to be a perfect donor match. The family traveled out of state to California, where Nolan received his transplant in May 2022 after a few setbacks and complications.
Nolan's treatment journey has been long and arduous. "It has been two years of treatment, and he is still going through monthly appointments to ensure his body is recovering and healing," Nolan said. The physical and emotional toll was significant. “He lost weight, lost appetite, got pneumonia, line infections, and viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Nolan was unable to be a kid. He couldn’t swim or go to the playgrounds. He could not attend family gatherings, and had to wear a mask all the time.”
Despite the hardships, Nolan found ways to cope. "I really enjoyed riding bikes in the hospital hallways. I loved painting and doing crafts. I enjoyed watching movies and playing games on my iPad," he shared. These activities brought moments of joy and distraction during the toughest times.
Nolan’s parents remember vividly the day they were introduced to Candlelighters. “We remember Jackie coming into our hospital room with a cart full of toys to choose from. She also gave us resources on how they could help us financially,” Nolan’s family recounted. The support from Candlelighters was a lifeline for the family. “Candlelighters always brought special toys and they do the coolest events for us and our families,” Nolan’s family added.
The impact of Candlelighters on Nolan's cancer journey was profound. “Candlelighters helped us be able to afford to travel for treatment. They helped us celebrate the holidays in such a special way,” Nolan's parents added. The first thing Nolan did when he completed his treatment was to pack up and move back home after living in California for almost nine months. “Once his team of doctors cleared him, we packed our stuff and moved back to our home sweet home. I also got to see all my family.”
Looking back on his journey, Nolan and his family have a message for other children facing cancer. “No matter how many bad days there are in this journey, there will be brighter days ahead, and they will be so magical. Keep chasing those rainbows after each storm,” Nolan’s family wrote.
