Our Heroes

LaGwyn and Andre Durden became alarmed after noticing large purple bruises on the legs of their son, Caleb, shortly after he started kindergarten. The family's pediatrician sent them immediately to the Children's Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children's, where Caleb was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a blood clotting disorder.

Eight-year-old Caleb makes monthly visits to the Children's Blood and Cancer Center for six-hour intravenous treatments, but despite the long hours, he actually enjoys his visits. "The staff is fantastic and patients never get bored," says LaGwyn. "The kids play basketball, enjoy arts and crafts, play video games and watch movies. They're not focused on the IVs in their arms or the carts they drag around with them."

Caleb recently became fast friends with Heidi, one of the many pet therapy dogs who make weekly visits to Dell Children's.

Shortly after his fourth birthday, Hudson was involved in a serious automobile accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was rushed to Dell Children's, where he was placed in a drug-induced coma to allow the swelling in his brain to go down. Until then, doctors could not predict his outcome. His parents, Ashley and Terry, were warned there was a good chance their son would not be the same little boy he was before the accident. For eight days, they waited by Hudson's side, watching for any response. "We were terrified that we'd never speak to Hudson again," says Ashley. "We had no idea if he'd ever talk, hear or see….or if he'd ever wake up."

Ashley remembers stepping out into the beautiful courtyard outside of the Dell Children's ICU. "The sun was shining and the wind was blowing," she said. "At that moment, I knew that no matter what, Hudson was going to be fine." Soon after, Hudson finally responded with a big smile and from that day forward, she says, "everything just happened." After spending three weeks at Dell Children's, Hudson spent three more weeks in rehabilitation. He still suffers hearing loss in his right ear and continues speech and physical therapies at Dell Children's. "Today I'm watching Hudson chase the dog around the couch," says Ashley. "Our son is back. He is 99.9 percent the little boy he was before the accident." Terry adds, "We'll never know why it happened, but our lesson is to cherish our loved ones."

MacKenzie was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four, underwent 26 months of cancer treatment and has since been in remission. Because of the chemotherapy, MacKenzie is at great risk to develop learning disabilities and delays in growth and maturity. It's also likely that she'll develop another cancer later in life. She and her parents, Lesley and Bob, and her sister, Randi, moved to Round Rock in 2006, but their lives soon took a tragic turn when Bob passed away unexpectedly from cancer. Heartbroken and alone, Lesley faced parenting her young cancer survivor, who was already experiencing challenges at school and in her life.

The family turned to the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center at Dell Children's in 2008, where MacKenzie receives support to navigate life as a cancer survivor. "They're always there for us," says Lesley. The staff prepared a comprehensive treatment summary of MacKenzie's medical history that she and her doctors will need throughout her lifetime. The chemotherapy she received as a child has affected her brain's ability to process information, so the Center works with school counselors to provide her with specialized testing and interventions and has also connected the family to outside organizations for additional support. MacKenzie joined Survivor Challenge, a physical activity group, where she met other young survivors. "They've walked in the same shoes and understand," says Lesley. "Their bond is strong and they help each other cope." MacKenzie says, "Through the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center, I believe I've been given a chance to live."

A year and a half ago, Bobby Leffert was a bright, happy and outgoing 4-year-old boy when he suddenly began having epileptic seizures. His parents, Pam and Robert, saw their little boy lose his passion for life. "Bobby took two medications with terrible side effects," says Pam. "His learning slowed down, and he didn't laugh like he used to. Seizures kept him awake at night, causing him to be tired and irritable. He wouldn't eat." Despite medications, Bobby's seizures persisted and epilepsy would continue to take a toll on his body and his life.

From their home in Georgia, the Lefferts' search for top epilepsy programs led them to Dell Children's, where doctors advised brain surgery with a goal for Bobby to become seizure-free. "After we came to Dell Children's and interviewed the epilepsy team, it was very clear that we would not go anywhere else," says Pam. Bobby underwent two brain surgeries in May and must remain on medications for another year. To date, he is seizure-free. "Bobby is cruising along in school and is reading so much faster now," she says. "He is walking on his own and his main goal is to run again. He's doing wonderfully and each day brings improvement."