At just five and a half months old, Harris Sheridan was diagnosed with leukemia and within a day, he was starting chemotherapy. “I remember asking what his survival rate was and they said it was good—around 45 to 50 percent but would increase if he had a blood marrow transplant, “ says his mom, Carol. “I told them that that may sound good in the doctor world but it didn’t in the parent world.” And the world they were about to enter was one filled with seemingly endless weeks in the hospital, terrifying moments and finally, a few months later, some good news.
On the day he was going to be discharged from the hospital, the doctors found what they were hoping for---a blood marrow donor for Harris. After testing his family, including his two older brothers, Harris’ dad was an almost perfect match. At less than a year old, Harris received a blood marrow transplant.
That was in 2005.
Today, Harris is a healthy, vibrant and strong five year old who will enter kindergarten in the fall. “He is the most resilient and independent child, “says Carol.
“As devastating as this was on the front end, we feel incredibly fortunate and so blessed,” says Carol. “We chose to have our children later in life and we are so glad we did. If we had our kids 15 years ago, we probably wouldn’t have Harris today. The advances in treatments and protocols in the last several years by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many children and families.”
When asked how she feels about being an inspiration to employees at Carter’s, her answer was a simple one. “It’s incredible to have a company that is so civically minded. It’s truly wonderful to see how much energy they have put into making a difference. They are an inspiration to me.”
Harris Sheridan is the 2010 Light The Night Walk Honored Hero for our sponsor, Carter's.
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