Deandra has arrived in a place in her life that she used to dream about; a time where she can attend school every day, talk to her friends in the hallway and make plans for her future.

Those activities are privileges hard-won in a long battle with acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia. When Deandra was 14, she noticed a lump behind her ear.  "I was in science class in eighth grade, and I felt it behind my ear. I immediately thought it was something bad," she says. Then, another lump appeared on her neck.

Physicians initially thought it was an infection that could be treated with antibiotics. Deandra mentioned the lumps to her best friend, Melissa. By coincidence, Melissa's grandfather, Arnold Leonard, M.D., was a pediatric surgeon at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview.

Leonard invited the Deandra's family over to his house and, after a quick check, he confirmed that a biopsy should be done.  A few days later, Leonard removed one of Deandra's lymph nodes to biopsy. It was the start of two and a half years of treatment and intermittent hospital stays at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview, where she received cranial radiation and chemotherapy administered in nearly every way it can be introduced into the body. "I received chemotherapy via my port-a-cath (a surgically-implanted portal into veins in the chest), chemo shots, chemo in my spinal fluid via a lumbar puncture, and daily chemo pills that were pretty wicked."

"She never complained, she always had a smile on her face," recalls Deandra's mother, Kim.

Deandra loved to have fun with the doctors and, after a friend gave her body tattoos as a gift, she used them to make the medical team laugh. "She would leave her doctor little notes on her back," says Kim. "She'd be under anesthesia, and they'd roll her over for a lumbar puncture, and they'd see notes like, 'This is my last LP, yesss!' She really knew how to find fun in her days."

Nights were more difficult for the family. "Early on in her diagnosis, Deandra would sleep with me every night, and she would cling to me and wake up during the night and ask me questions such as, 'Do I have cancer?' Then she'd fall back asleep. But her grip on my arm would never loosen," recalls Kim.

"My mom was a huge part of my recovery," says Deandra. "We were always very close but now we are even closer."

In school, Deandra struggled to keep up with her peers. Instead of a typical freshman year, she worked at home with a teacher when she felt well enough to study. By sophomore year, she was able to attend school frequently. Today, she has been pronounced cancer-free and she can attend school every day, but she's still adjusting to the rigor of it. "It's a unique experience," she says. "To go to school every day and, like, stay up for it. I get tired easily; I come home and sleep until 7:30 p.m., and then wake up to do my homework. Sometimes I wonder how other kids can do it."

While her fight against leukemia was long and difficult, Deandra believes good things also resulted from the experience. She was able to attend a camp for kids with cancer, plan a vacation granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and enter and win an art competition held by Children's Cancer Research Fund.

For the annual contest, dozens of children with cancer draw ornate butterflies.  A committee evaluates the artwork and chooses one to decorate the programs and materials produced for the annual Dawn of a Dream gala. Deandra was also asked to incorporate her winning butterfly design into one of 25 squares of a quilt commemorating the 25th anniversary of Children's Cancer Research Fund.  "I was so happy to have won," Deandra says. "Children's Cancer Research Fund supported the treatment I was on and it saved my life.

"Without the research and advanced medicine, my outcome would have been much different," she continues. "I totally support Children's Cancer Research Fund and the work they do. However, there is still so much research and studies that need to be done as they work towards a cancer-free society for children.

Currently, Deandra is a freshman at Bethel University and studying nursing. She became interested in a nursing career because of all the wonderful nurses she had during her treatment. Deandra has regular six-month check-ups and says her life is "pretty normal," besides some post-effects of treatment. Deandra's plans for this summer include being as active as possible and volunteering to help others overcome obstacles.

In her free time, Deandra has also volunteered to speak about her leukemia experience. "Speaking brings back the good memories about going through cancer and hopefully helps other people also go through it. It made me a better person, so I don't really look at it in a bad way."

Deandra and her mom agree that one of the high points was the relationship they built with the medical team at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview. "The medical staff was absolutely awesome," says Kim. "We made friends that will last a lifetime. You'd go in for your appointment, and the medical staff would always respond with hope, facts, and support. I felt so good at every appointment; it felt like they were embracing you as a family and you weren't walking the journey alone." 

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