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Maxwell's story (written by a friend of the Pogers's family)


Maxwell Reid Pogers was born on August 26, 2014. He was a happy, healthy seeming little boy. But at his 4 week well baby check-up, a very astute pediatrician decided to run extra labs because he was so pale. The results led to an ambulance ride for Maxwell and his mom to Duke University Hospital where they learned the devastating news that Little Maxwell had Leukemia. At just one month in age, Maxwell became a beacon of hope for so many of his family, their friends, co-workers and even complete strangers.

After several rounds of chemotherapy, it was determined that the best plan for Maxwell was to move forward with a cord blood transplant, which occurred on April 1, 2015. Though there were high hopes for a cure, there were also significant risks, and Maxwell developed an infection while his immune system was depleted. He was moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for treatment of a variety of transplant complications. Despite his critical state, Maxwell demonstrated positive signs including markers of engraftment that were noted on April 21. Follow-up testing received on May 2 indicated that the cord blood transplant had worked, as all Maxwell’s blood cells were found to be donor cells, with none of his own diseased host cells detectable. He was eventually able to wean off the ventilator and return to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

He remained there for approximately three weeks, but continued to have difficulty thriving. He returned to the PICU May 2 and continued to fight. On May 27, his status worsened to the point that he needed full ventilator support secondary to a pulmonary hemorrhage and developing kidney failure. His amazing parents, Mark and Janna, felt that Maxwell was telling them he was ready to rest, and made the heartbreaking and selfless decision to withdraw care and allow their precious little one the peace and complete healing they felt he deserved. After waging a fierce but smile-filled battle against leukemia for over 8 months, sweet Maxwell entered an eternity of peace and rest on June 4, 2015.


We Reached

$1000

Abigail Nguyen donated

$50.00

Maxwell's Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sister donated

$35.00

Jackson Marcy donated

$30.00

We Reached

$500

The Genaway Family donated

$25.00

Estelle Tsalik donated

$25.00

Anonymous donated

$30.00