Few people find needles enjoyable, and a significant portion of the adult population expresses overt fear of them. So it’s no wonder that young children scream when it’s time to get a shot or have their blood drawn. Who would blame them? It stinks.
Morgan Handley’s kid, Reece, experiences discomfort on a weekly basis rather than once a year. The 5-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago at the age of two and must have his blood collected on a daily basis. Despite his obvious distress, the way he prepares himself for it has people cheering him on and motivated to take the same approach to difficult tasks they would rather not undertake.
Watch:
@morganprains Just my 5 year olds version of a pep talk for his lab draw this week…. He’s had his labs done at least bi weekly for almost 3 years 🥹🤣 #fyp #childhoodcancerawareness #roarlikeReece #fcancer ♬ original sound – Morgan Handley
His response was, “Heck yeah!” Do it. The phrase “Just do it” would suffice on its own, but the enthusiastic response of “Yeah, dude! That’s what I’m talking about!” adds an extra layer of confidence. The young warrior clearly understands what works for him, and his courage through tears is precisely what we all hope we could generate when we’re going through a difficult situation.
Handley tells Upworthy that it is something he has internalized from his family. “We pep him up, always, but it’s carried over the years,” she tells me. “And now he naturally encourages us, even when we have tasks that need to be completed!”
People adored how he handled it:
“Him crying while cheering himself on broke my heart and made me laugh at the same time.”
“He understood the importance of mind over matter!”
“He handled it better than some adult males I know! Hahah”
“I don’t even have kids, and I want to get him whatever toys he wants after this.”
“Look at that courageous little boy! He motivated himself to go through the worry and discomfort!!”
Handley stated that Reece intends to announce his cancer-free status in July 2025. It has been a lengthy journey to get there. He was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2022 after visiting the emergency room with fever blisters that had transformed into a rash around his lips and seemed to be an allergic reaction. When the ER doctor saw Reece’s pale complexion, he drew his blood and discovered a white cell count of 80,000, which indicated leukemia. After being transported to the children’s hospital, specialists rechecked and verified his blood cell count.
@morganprains Replying to @Hannah Fountain sorry it’s so long 😆 #fcancer #childhoodcancerawareness #diagnosis ♬ original sound – Morgan Handley
That’s where the family’s cancer adventure began: meeting with specialists, devising a strategy, and starting treatment, which has included chemotherapy, weekly labs, various surgeries, spinal taps, immunotherapy, steroids, and more. He was able to begin immunotherapy treatment as part of a St. Jude’s study, which has been demonstrated to minimize recurrence rates. Immunotherapy treatment is now a standard routine, according to Handley.
“Treatment has been relatively smooth,” she tells Upworthy. “He has sensitive skin and gets rashes from every medication. Steroids are particularly harmful to children. He stopped walking at first, but he has not experienced any negative reactions in general. Immunotherapy was a smooth aspect of the treatment.”
Reece’s kind of leukemia is acute lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL), a bone marrow and blood malignancy that spreads quickly and produces immature blood cells rather than mature ones. It is the most frequent pediatric cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately, it is now more curable than many other types of cancer, with a favorable survival rate, particularly in young children.
Handley posted another video that shows how much of a daily procedure it is to go through cancer treatment as a youngster. She claimed that how Reece handles blood draws “depends on the day.”
People in the comments have been supportive, and some have even recounted their experiences with childhood leukemia, bringing hope to Handley and her family.
“My brother was similarly diagnosed with leukemia at the age of two and went into remission when he was five. I was born shortly after he was diagnosed. There are numerous parallels between our experiences. He has been cancer-free for 35 years and is praying for you all.
“My sister was also diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of two and survived until she was six years old. It limited her growth tremendously, but she’s 25 and doing great!!”
When I was diagnosed with ALL at the age of six, my hemoglobin level was 4. quite pale and quite feeble. The primary indicator was that I couldn’t keep up in PE, and my mother had a gut sense. I’ve been cancer-free for about 28 years now. This event influenced me to become a nurse as well. Much love to everyone.”
“My eldest son was three when he was diagnosed with stage three clear cell sarcoma. He is currently 8 years old and cancer-free. We had another son and are expecting a girl in October. I wish your little child a long and healthy life.
However, a rise in favorable outcomes does not make therapy more fun or simpler for a parent.
@morganprains Replying to @Morgan Handley truly an inspiration. I’m so proud of this kid. He is a literal hero. The unfortunate reality is needle pokes are a frequent occurrence in cancer treatment. Most days he just makes the best of it 🥹🤪❤️🩹 #childhoodcancerawareness #roarlikeReece ♬ original sound – Morgan Handley
“I want people to know how hard it is to watch your child lose himself and struggle with simple childhood challenges while you are trying to save his life,” remarks Handley. “I want people to understand that the reality is that you live in constant terror of your child dying. Every day. Relapse happens every day. But we’re going to celebrate every single nice thing that arrives.”
She describes Reece as “a literal superhero,” and many others agree. We can all benefit from how this child learned to face his obstacles with zest, perseverance, and joy.