HOUSTON – This Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, we share the inspiring story of John, a brave two-year-old whose family vacation turned into a life-changing fight against cancer.
From Family Trip to Urgent Diagnosis
John was just about to celebrate his second birthday when he started feeling unwell during a family trip to Paris. What seemed like the flu quickly took a serious turn. At a children’s hospital overseas, John was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
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ALL causes the body to produce too many immature white blood cells, which can make it difficult to fight infections and cause symptoms like fatigue and bruising. While the diagnosis is frightening, advances in treatment have dramatically improved outcomes for children like John.
John’s father, Kyle Jungels, recalls the moment they heard the diagnosis, “When they said leukemia, I was in disbelief... It felt like a death sentence at first.”
His mother, Sarah Jungels, shares, “I went into mom mode. I didn’t want to say leukemia out loud until the doctor said it. We thought it was the flu at first.”
Modern Treatments Offer New Hope
Dr. Lauren Sherer, John’s pediatric oncologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, explains, “We have great treatments for ALL, and we’ve really revolutionized care in the last few years. We can tailor therapy to each case, so his outcomes should be really great.”
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Thanks to these advances, John has been able to make remarkable progress. When he first arrived at the hospital, he wasn’t walking or talking much. Now, he’s learning new words, activities and engaging with his care team.
Overcoming Challenges Far From Home
John’s diagnosis came while his family was overseas, adding layers of complexity to their journey. Language barriers and the logistics of medical travel made the situation even more challenging.
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John’s condition had deteriorated so quickly while in France that he was too sick to board a commercial flight home.
With the help of Texas Children’s Hospital’s International Team, the family was able to effectively communicate with doctors in both countries and fly John home, literally landing in America and heading straight to Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
“When we got in contact with the international team, which at the time I had no idea they had an international team, but now I understand why,” Sarah Jungels said, “They were able to kind of keep in contact with the physicians and trying to help with our insurance, give us letters from even Texas Children’s physician or the oncology doctor on-call and like [explain] this child needs to come in on a medical flight.”
The Power of Parental Intuition
Dr. Scherer emphasizes the critical role parents play in early detection and advocating for a child.
“Parental intuition is the best tool. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and keep pushing for answers,” she said.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Now six months into treatment, John is responding well.
“Hopefully, he will complete therapy and live a normal, healthy life,” Kyle Jungels said.
John’s story is a powerful reminder of the advances in pediatric cancer care and the importance of early detection.