(Pictured left to right) Andrada English Teacher Jay Webster; Alex’s father,
Jason Herron; Alex; Andrada Social Studies Teacher Bryan Frausel; and in the
front brothers Jess Herron, age 10, and Aiden Herron, age 6. All have shaved
their heads in support of Alex.
Imagine being a fourteen-year-old boy and being transported by ambulance from your student life at Andrada Polytechnic High School (Andrada) to Diamond Children’s Center. On November 6th, after a two day stay, you are diagnosed with AML leukemia. This is how Alex Herron’s story began.
According to Wikipedia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that build up in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. Alex remains in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, but took a break to go home for Christmas before returning for further treatments, said his mother Alycyn Herron, who has been living at the hospital to be with her son. It is rare for this form of leukemia to be found in a teenager. Usually, it is confined to adults.
After Christmas, Alex will return to the hospital for more treatment and then in February, he will undergo a bone marrow transplant. There is a 25% chance that his two brothers, Jess, age 10 and Aiden, age 6 will both be compatible matches. The doctors are confident Alex is strong enough to take the treatment, said his mother explaining it is expected he will spend about a year in the hospital.
Alex is an amazing kid with such a positive attitude. Despite what he’s going through, his biggest concern is missing school. He’s always been pretty quiet in the classroom, and he’s not incredibly social with the other students, but they have responded so wonderfully. So many cards have been sent, and they are asking questions about Alex, so I’m very proud of them, said Jay Webster Alex’s English teacher. This kid is a champion. I was honored to show my support for him by shaving my head.
In the last period on Friday, December 1st, all 280 Andrada freshmen students and their teachers came downstairs where the large screen television was set up to visit with Alex in his hospital room. At one point Alex removed the beanie he was wearing showing his hairless head, and they all cheered in support reported Andrada Registrar Debbie Peck.
The Herron Family is truly a Vail Family. Alex’s dad, Jason Herron, works for APCO in Benson. Alex attended Acacia Elementary, Old Vail Middle School, and now is a freshman at Andrada. Both his brothers attend Acacia. Alex has a Facebook page listed under Alex the Fighter and a Go Fund Me page listed as Alex Herron Medical Fund.
All Andrada freshmen students and their teachers visited remotely with Alex in
his hospital room.
