TEAGAN, AGE 13

Midway through kindergarten, I was struggling with weight gain, sleeping through dinner and felt tired all the time without any answers. Still, I continued to go to school and was my usual bubbly self. My school nurse thought something was wrong when she saw my pale face and told my parents I should be seen by a doctor. After numerous visits to urgent care centers and no answers, my liver and spleen became enlarged, so I went to the emergency room at my local hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I was immediately referred to Children’s Hospital Colorado where I was told that I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and immediately began my treatment. My liver and spleen were so enlarged that I waddled around and could hardly get in and out of bed without help. I spent my inpatient time in isolation due to problems. After six weeks of treatment and physical therapy, I was in remission and then back to school within three months of my diagnosis. I finished my treatment in April 2017, and am now cancer-free! I have always kept a positive attitude even through two and half years of chemotherapy, nausea and fatigue.

There are minimal long-term practices as of now thanks to the amazing care given at Children's Hospital Colorado, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. 

My most memorable experience at Children’s Colorado was playing in the arts and crafts area during my chemo treatments. Today I am a cheerful, outgoing, healthy soon to be 8th grader. I was a member of my local swim team until recently taking a break to focus on my studies. I love to practice archery and take long walks with my family's dog.

Up until February 2020, I saw my physician, Dr. Amanda Winters, regularly for clinic visits. I am now transitioning to the HOPE Clinic at Children's Hospital since everything is going well. 

My Mom, Erin, said “Dr. Winters was absolutely amazing and was with us the minute we stepped into the emergency room at Children’s Colorado and made sure we knew what was happening every step of the way.”

I am grateful to be alive and want to share my story with other cancer patients so I can raise awareness and help other kids by letting them know they are not alone. 

I will be swimming the one mile open water swim again this August to help raise money for early stage cancer research and clinical trials. The money raised for this swim goes directly to Children's Hospital Colorado, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Please help us help our neighbors. 

You can send a check to Swim Across America - Denver, PO Box 370076, Denver, CO 80237.

Check should be made out to Swim Across America but please include a note mentioning my name as the swimmer you are supporting!