Meet All-Star Shepherd

“When Pinky Swear paid our mortgage in December 2024, it felt like a ray of sunshine in a world full of storm clouds.” - All-Star Shepherd’s dad, Alex.

Shepherd is a happy little two-year old who wants everything to be a race. But in late 2023, the toddler who likes chasing the animals at his family’s home found himself in a race for his life.

At first, Shepherd’s symptoms seemed strange and mild. He wasn’t sleeping, but the little boy’s doctor thought his sleeplessness was the result of night terrors.

But Shepherd’s symptoms continued to worsen around the end of 2023. His stomach was hard and tight. He had red dots, or petechiae, on his torso. His parents also noticed more and more bruises on their son’s body.

His doctor gave him an antibiotic for an ear infection and ordered blood work. When the results came back, Shepherd’s parents were told to take him to the emergency room immediately.

More tests were done. Then an oncologist came to see them. That is when Shepherd’s parents noticed their son had grown more pale, almost ghostly white.

The doctor gave them the life-changing news: Shepherd had leukemia.

Alex said he was in denial at first.

“I was still thinking, no. He is having these symptoms because he needs to eat more vegetables,” Alex said.

But Shepherd’s mom, Tanya, understood right away.

They took turns staying at the hospital that first week. One would spend the day with him, and they traded off at night. When one was at the hospital with Shepherd, the other was at home taking care of his older sister and the farm animals, which included a sheep, chickens, and a dog.

Alex, a project manager for an engineering company, tried to participate in online meetings when he was at the hospital, but it was difficult. It seemed as if nurses came into their room every 10 minutes. So, he tried to make up that time at night, thanks to the flexibility offered by his company. Even with his company’s flexibility, Alex worried about keeping up and doing a good job.

Unexpected hospitalizations threw a wrench in an already taxing cancer journey. They require additional trips to the clinic, overnights, and additional medical support. Shepherd has been hospitalized two times for his immunotherapy treatment, plus two unplanned visits when his port, which delivers his chemotherapy directly to his bloodstream, became infected.

In Shepherd’s case, hospital visits were even more of a challenge because it was 90 minutes away from their home. They were grateful when a new medical campus opened less than an hour away, making it easier for them to get to appointments.

Alex and Tanya, a stay-at-home mom, said they shielded Shepherd’s sister from the severity of his diagnosis, only telling her that he was “sicker than they thought.”

Oftentimes, it is not even the worst part of cancer treatment that makes it the hardest. There are side effects to everything children are required to take to handle treatment. A steroid given to Shepherd during the initial phase of his treatment made him quick to anger, made him constantly hungry, and made it difficult for him to sleep, Alex said.

“Imagine the terrible twos, but literally on steroids,” he said.

The family snuck in naps when they could, reduced their social obligations, and tried to take life one day at a time.

The family reflected on all that Shepherd has missed by not being a “normal toddler” like interactions with other kids. They missed their uneventful life.

Despite the hardships, they welcomed a new baby in January 2025, and Shepherd has reached an easier phase of his treatment, which won’t end until 2027.

“We have become guilty of just trying to survive, rather than thrive,” Alex said. “We have had to put our lives on hold and give up normal things like going on vacation."

Alex and Tayna said they are thankful for everyone who has helped them on their journey, including Pinky Swear Foundation.

“The whole cancer thing didn’t feel fair. When we got the support, it felt like a way to restore balance,” Alex said. “I am a proud person, so having to ask for help also felt unfair, but unfair in a good way, not a bad way.”

Shepherd is doing well these days, considering what he’s been through. He likes to play outside, dinosaurs, baseball, his bike, and construction equipment.

“His first word is fun, and his second word is competitive,” his dad said. “He wants everything to be a race.”

A race he is winning.