Iris’s Story

Site created on September 26, 2020

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


Sunday, September 20th Iris was at her Nana and Pappy's when I (her mother) noticed a rash on her legs. Having a blood disorder myself, I recognized the rash immediately and mentioned it to my mom, Iris' Nana. She commented her color seemed off that day and I agreed. I called her pediatrician the next day and told them everything, assuming they would want to see her and do blood work to see what was going on. 


Wednesday, September 23rd, Iris had a doctor appointment with her pediatrician to have her rash checked out and get blood work done. When the blood results came back Wednesday afternoon, I was told to pack up things for a few days and head to University of MD in Baltimore with Iris because her platelets and hemoglobin were both dangerously low.  When we arrived, more blood work was done and late Wednesday night I was told we were being admitted and to expect to stay atleast a week. 


Thursday, September 24th we were told that though her white blood cell count was good, 80% of her white blood cells had leukemia in them. One of the worst things we could ever imagine, our sweet girl was diagnosed with Leukemia. Thursday and Friday were filled with a lot of tests, meetings with doctors, and questions waiting for answers.


She received her first treatment on Friday night and by Saturday morning, we were told that her official diagnosis was CSN1 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This means that her spinal fluid was clear of leukemia cells on both day of diagnosis (Thursday) and day 1 of treatment (Friday). Moving forward, she will receive treatments twice a week, for the first month, hopefully in an outpatient procedure. As we learn more, we will share with you here. Please keep her in your prayers, and send healing thoughts her way! Thank you all!!

Newest Update

December 20, 2022

Journal entry by Kelly Hager —

So much to update on! Since the end of September things have been virus and ear infection loaded, but things seem to be turning around 😊

Iris received her last IV treatment on October 17th, but her IT treatment had to be delayed due to being seen in the ER on October 15th with a fever and vomiting. She was diagnosed with Rhinovirus (the common cold).

November 1st Iris woke up complaining of a headache and ended up testing positive for covid. the next day she was back in the ER due to a high fever. This time she tested positive for covid, parainfluenza, and she was still testing positive for rhinovirus. It was also requested that she get follow up blood work in a few days since some of her numbers were (understandably) not where they should be. 

For two weeks in November she had to stop her medicine but after weekly blood draws, she was finally able to finish her medicine with one week left of treatment to go.

November 28th she got her last IT Treatment and spinal tap!

November 30th she took her last home oral treatment!!

Now the fun begins! Tomorrow she goes in for her first monthly check up post-treatment. She will ring the bell 🔔 … and … pending good vitals and lab work, her port will be removed!! 🥳

Send the prayers, positive vibes, and love her way tomorrow - it’s a BIG DAY 🧡
Read More of the journal titled "December 20, 2022"
  • 10/17: Last IV Treatment!! 
    10/17: Last IV Treatment!!
  • Thanksgiving Weekend: taking advantage of warm weather ☀️
    Thanksgiving Weekend: taking advantage of warm weather ☀️
  • 10/31: Applejack from My Little Pony for Halloween (even though we didn’t trick-or-treat)
    10/31: Applejack from My Little Pony for Halloween (even though ...
  • 11/28: Playing in the train room before her last IT Treatment 
    11/28: Playing in the train room before her last IT Treatment
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