Season to Share: A 3-year-old faces blood cancer and a family faces financial strain

They met at a dance in West Palm Beach in 1994.

Charity, the Florida teen, born and raised in the Sunshine State, was leaving. Felix, the immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was just arriving.

Somehow, Charity was convinced to stay.

“We danced and got to know each other,” Charity said.

The pair married in 1999, and happily ever after came fast. Three children, then a fourth. They had a five-bedroom house in Greenacres. Felix was a maintenance man, and Charity started a vegan bakery out of their garage.

But the preacher doesn’t just say happily ever after. There’s that ‘in sickness and in health’ part, too. And Charity and Felix DeLeon have dealt with enough sickness to last five lifetimes.

Their fifth child, Sophie, was born with an array of medical maladies, including a pair of genetic disorders that impair her lungs and limit her speech and intellectual abilities.

The outlook was relentlessly grim.

“We were told she wouldn’t survive,” Charity said. “We were told that, if she did survive, she’d be a vegetable.”

Charity gave up her home business, and she and her family eventually gave up their home, selling it for a smaller house in Port St. Lucie, where they live today.

Sophie required around-the-clock care, but the family has been determined to give her the best life possible for as long as possible.

“She’s alive,” Charity said of her now 14-year-old girl. “She’s a miracle. They don’t know how she’s still alive.”

Not one, but two children born in crisis

Charity and Felix had another healthy child and then a seventh, a little boy who also appeared to be healthy. But tragedy wasn’t done with the DeLeons.

The seventh baby, a boy named Tobias, was robust, but he bruised easily. Last fall, his appetite fell off, and he developed flu-like symptoms and a high fever that didn’t break for seven terrible days.

“They suspected he had leukemia,” Charity said. “His body had stopped producing bone marrow. He had received countless transfusions and medicine to get his blood cells working again.”

When he was released from the hospital, the DeLeons were relieved. Their relief, however, was short-lived.

Tobias’ health faltered again, and, by December, doctors had a diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer.

A port was placed in Tobias’ chest, and doctors started him on a years-long chemotherapy regimen. The hope is that the now-3-year old can survive the treatment and make it to possible remission on the other side.

For now, though, the DeLeons fight an endless series of battles — against the illnesses sickening two of their children, against despair and against the crushing financial ramifications that come with those diagnoses.

Tobias was put on life support in October, but he fought his way back from that. He has many more battles ahead.

“It’s really hard to put into words,” Charity said. “I feel like I’ve been erased as a person. You spend your life working to build security for your children. And then, in split second, it’s gone.”

Family faces bottomless financial strain

Felix drives an hour each way now to work. Charity and her other children juggle care for Sophie and Tobias. Both of their family vehicles are at least a decade old.

The financial strain is bottomless.

“We don’t take vacations any more,” Charity said. “We live very simply.”

They thought about moving out of Florida, to North Carolina or maybe to Alabama, somewhere less expensive. But the Charity and Felix wanted to remain close to their older children, who wanted the same thing.

So, the family has remained in Florida. Those twin battles — against the illnesses and against financial strain — go on.

A newer vehicle would mean a bit more security. And financial assistance would ease the strain some.

“I could buy food and pay bills as I need to,” Charity said. “I wouldn’t have to worry about it month to month.”

But beyond positive developments for her own family, Charity said she agreed to discuss her family’s trauma as a way to help others know they aren’t alone.

“My mission is to bring some light to this,” she said. “Childhood cancer is not rare. But nobody talks about it. I will use my story to do some good.”

Tobias DeLeon’s Wish

Just a toddler, Tobias DeLeon is on a years-long chemotherapy regimen to battle a blood cancer. Sadly, his family was not unfamiliar with childhood health crisis — Tobias’ older sister was born with an array of medical maladeis that impair her lungs and limit her speech and intellectual abilities. Parents Charity and Felix DeLeon find themselves now fighting an endless series of battles — against the illnesses sickening two of their children, against despair and against the crushing financial ramifications that come with those diagnoses. The family moved to a more affordable home, but Felix’s commute and the hours-long drives to the oncologist and hospital in West Palm Beach is taking its toll on their vehicles that are each at least a decade old. They need a reliable replacement. The family needs help to cover their mortgage, car insurance and gas. The family must also eat very “clean” foods due to the children’s medical needs. They welcome any help paying for that significant expense as well.

Nominated by: Pediatric Oncology Support Team

Wayne Washington is a reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. Reach him by email at [email protected].