Isabel "Izzy" Doucette, 6, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Wilmington, with Meredith (mom), Dave (dad), Leah (sister, 12), Aubrey (sister, 10), and Emily McTigue, Certified Child Life Specialist, Dana-Farber
Izzy was diagnosed with b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January 2022. She had a fever and some bruises on her skin which looked pronounced because she was especially pale. She went to the doctor for bloodwork, where it she was diagnosed with leukemia. Her treatment plan has included chemotherapy and she is slated to complete active treatment in Spring 2024.
ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer. It most often occurs in children ages 3 to 5 and affects slightly more boys than girls. About 3,000 people younger than age 20 are found to have ALL each year in the United States.
Emily is a certified child life specialist in the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber.