"We thought it was a growth thing... we thought maybe she didn't have enough sleep... it all seemed within the realm of normal childhood stuff. Her eyes were swollen... that was the first sign that something was different. So that's when we took her to the doctor."
"I really felt like I had an out-of-body experience... I really felt like I floated out of my own body. And was watching these people talk, and not feeling like it was my life. So really in those moments, so your whole world... everything you know seems to shift."
"Their 6-year-old was diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer - acute myeloid leukemia or AML. Mabel had to be admitted and treated immediately at UCSF. Linda and Tim went from thinking about family dinner to facing questions about blood transfusions and clinical trials."
Six-year-old Mabel Wong was an active child until exhaustion and swollen eyes prompted her parents to seek medical attention. After five days of testing, Mabel was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare blood cancer. Her parents, Tim and Linda, experienced shock and disorientation upon receiving the diagnosis. Mabel required immediate hospitalization and treatment at UCSF, where she spent seven to eight months connected to medical equipment. The family's life transformed from everyday routines to hospital-centered existence. Okizu, an organization supporting families affected by childhood cancer since 1982, helps families like the Wongs navigate this challenging journey through community support and resources.
#childhood-cancer #acute-myeloid-leukemia #family-support #medical-treatment #community-organizations
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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