Landon's Journey -- Southern Maryland - This Is Living Magazine

Landon's Journey

"I was born on January 15, 2004, but what Mommy and Daddy did not know.... I had a few secrets. First they found out that I had Down syndrome. Then they found out that I had low platelets. The big secret.... God made me special just for my family! Mommy and Daddy said that I was perfect. Since the day I was born, I have had to get lots of blood tests. I am so used to it I don't even cry!"

Colleen Morrill makes entries into an online journal each day written from her son's point of view, that records the seemingly endless struggle of his battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). As it turns out, Down syndrome was not Landon Morrill's biggest challenge, but according to his mother, AML was.

The past is a place Colleen and her husband Terry would like to keep the dreaded disease that has plagued their son since shortly after his birth. After years of an exhausting and relentless battle with the illness common to Down syndrome children, Landon is currently recovering from a cord blood transplant he received in August and his parents are prayerful that he will experience a full recovery.

A few months ago, Landon faced a certain death. The virulent and relentless cancer returned in April after Landon had experienced a period of remission, during which time the family was hopeful the cancer would not return, despite being told that there was a 15 percent chance that it could. Terry and Colleen were told by the doctor treating their son that in his opinion Landon's body could no longer endure the battle. He felt that further treatment would be a "quality of life issue," and that Landon was not a viable candidate for a bone marrow transplant-the only thing left to save his life.

Although Terry and Colleen had great respect for this doctor, and all of his colleagues who had so tenderly cared for their son, they were terrified for their son's life and both agreed that they were not ready to give up the fight. Instead, they decided to find someone who might look at his situation differently. As Landon's physical condition quickly began to deteriorate, miraculously and just in time, they found him. Both Terry and Colleen agree, with a faith strengthened by their son's illness, God has guided them in their decision making and put the right people in place to save Landon since his birth. The couple believes finding this new doctor was not good fortune or an accident, it was God's work.

Soon after they began searching they located a doctor who indeed felt there was every reason to believe Landon was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant. In fact, the doctor thought Landon had as good a chance as any other child in his situation would have.

Immediately, the family began the search for a donor. Local drives were conducted with overwhelming support from family and friends, but even with all those who stepped forward for testing, a perfect match for Landon was not found. In the end, Landon ended up receiving cord blood donated by the family of a baby girl.

Now armed with new bone marrow and doctors determined to save his life, Landon's chances of survival have increased dramatically. Although Terry and Colleen caution that their son is not "out of the woods yet," doctors say that Landon has done extremely well and recent tests show no sign whatsoever of the cancer. He has new blood. He has new hope.

The message Terry and Colleen want to share in allowing Landon's story to be told is one of hope. They caution anyone who faces a similar experience to remember to seek a second opinion because it is always possible someone else may have an entirely different perspective-a life saving one.

"Mommy says, 'The Journey of 10,000 Miles Begins With The First Step.' It feels like we have gone 10,000 miles.....And I know that God's angels have been with me the entire time!"

Terry and Colleen would like to thank all of their family and friends who have been so supportive during this difficult time. They would especially like to thank the members of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Benedict and New Life Church in Waldorf for their outpouring of love and kindness. -Tina Wagner