Caleb Robert Whan, 3 years old, was complaining of leg and arm pain in August of 2007. Although there was no visible fracture on the x-ray, Caleb was put in casts on his right arm and right leg. A few days later his left leg hurt. Finally, blood work was ordered which revealed leukemia.
10 days after Caleb’s diagnosis, he was further diagnosed as an ultra high risk case, called Hypodiploid ALL. This sub-type of Leukemia is extremely rare with only 8 to 10 diagnosis per year with a success rate of only 15% to 20%. Caleb was immediately placed on a protocol that included a Bone Marrow Transplant which he received at Duke University in November of 2007.
The transplant was best described as textbook. Caleb engrafted in record time and had minimal side effects from the chemotherapy and total body radiation. Caleb and his family had to relocate to Durham, NC for over 4 months.
But, Caleb relapsed on, March 10, 2008, just 4 days after returning home to Florida from Durham, NC. There is no protocol for a patient who has relapsed so close to a Bone Marrow Transplant. As a family, we were forced to place our 3 year old son in Hospice Care and pray for a Miracle.
A few days later, Caleb wanted to watch the home video when his little sister Isabella came home from the hospital, after her birth. Caleb was sitting on my lap and, as a father I could not handle it. I had to take him off my lap and go to the bedroom in tears. I could not imagine my life or life for my daughter, who was only 9 months old, without her big brother, Caleb. When I pulled myself together, I came out of the bedroom; Caleb noticed that I had been crying. He simply said to me, “Don’t worry about me daddy, I will be OK.” No father should have to hear that knowing that his son was terminally ill.
On March 27, 2008, Caleb’s doctor ordered an MRI for some pain issues. Caleb had to go under general anesthesia for the MRI. Caleb’s oxygen saturation dropped and he was placed on a respirator. The doctors told us when we pulled the tube he would not be able to breathe on his own. We made the decision to pull the tube and let God’s will be done. Caleb was able to breathe on his own and we were able to bring him home.
When we brought Caleb home his breathing was extremely shallow. We all huddled around him to pray, try to get him to talk, open his eyes, and smile. There were some moments where he was responsive to our attempts. One of which was extremely special to me as a father. I was by Caleb’s side and told him “I love you Caleb” but got no reply. I got a little closer and told him “I love you, Baby” Caleb opened his eyes, looked at me and whispered “yuv you”. These were his last words.
On March 28, 2008, at 4:30 AM Caleb took his last breath and went to be with God, this was only 11 short days after his 4th birthday.