Leukemia Took My Son The Journey of a Brave Teen Named Woody and His Grieving Mother

All of a sudden, one lump defined two lives. Concerned as any mother would be, Denise Sayles drove Woody- her eighteen-year-old son, a boy filled with ambition, laughter, and life-to their family doctor for an examination. The doctor performed a biopsy on the lump, and on that day, at that moment, their lives were forever changed.

The doctor explained that Woody had leukemia, an extremely aggressive form of childhood cancer, and that he had only six months to live if he didn't start chemotherapy immediately.

Woody and his mother began the fight of their lives, for the sake of saving his. What followed were countless nights spent at his bedside, as he went through chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Woody's weakened body rejected the transplant, and his prospects were few. But when former NBA all-star player Brian Grant stepped in to help, the family dared to hope again. Grant launched one of the largest bone marrow drives in the history of Oregon and Washington. He did this not to only help save Woody's life but to double the number of African American marrow donors in these two states.

With Grant's help and his mother's support, Woody fought bravely, but the cancer was too strong. Here, she tells her story in the hopes of inspiring, informing, and educating other mothers, fathers, families, and friends.