272: Hope and Healing: The Palmer’s Family's Fight Against AML 

Throughout the month of November, we will be releasing episodes on Friday that share the personal stories of families affected by blood cancer in coordination with our 'Be Their Hero' fundraising campaign that raises awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS). Join Devan Kline as he interviews Burn Boot Camp – Pineville, N.C. Member, Lauren Palmer, who received a diagnosis for her son, Jennings, in 2017 and turned to LLS for their support during this extremely challenging time. Lauren Palmer is a wife to her husband Joel of 13 years and a mom of four children: Caroline, Jennings, and twins Charlotte and Henry. Lauren shares that at 36 weeks pregnant they received a pediatric cancer diagnosis for their then 2.5 year old son Jennings. He was diagnosed with the most rare form of childhood leukemia, AML. They were told he had a 50/50 chance of survival. Jennings started a very high-dose of chemotherapy and then Lauren gave birth to the twins in the same hospital, two weeks later. Jennings endured 4 toxic rounds of chemotherapy and then a grueling bone marrow transplant. His big sister Caroline, was his bone marrow donor. Jennings enjoyed 2.5 years of remission but sadly his cancer returned in November of 2020 when he was 5 years old. He went through more chemotherapy, and another bone marrow transplant. This time, his Dad, Joel being the donor. After his transplant, Jennings participated in a cutting-edge clinical trial at Children’s National Hospital and received special t-cells engineered to attack markers that are known to be on the surface of AML cells. Jennings has been in remission again for 2.5 years and is now 8 years old in the second grade. Lauren shares “There’s a lot of shiny things in the world that distract us and make us feel like that is what is going to make us happy and sometimes we all just need a little perspective shift.” The remission Jennings has experienced is only made possible because of evolving blood cancer research and study. Every donation to LLS makes it possible for kids to live more life at home with their families where they belong. Click the link below to donate today and join us on Giving Tuesday on November 28th at participating Burn Boot Camp locations for our 'Be Their Hero' Camp. Donate Today: https://pages.lls.org/ltn/2023/burnbootcamp