At 3 years of age, Addison Tong of Independence Township is in the fight of her life.
Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L) in March, she has already undergone a month of aggressive chemotherapy, with monthly blood cell count and loss of all her hair.
‘She’s been awesome,? said her mother, Halee Tong. ‘I don’t know how she does it. She’s a little fighter. She never complains.?
Halee and Mitch Tong took their daughter, sick with what they thought was stomach flu, to Clarkston Medical Group in February. Testing showed a low white blood cell count, and she was diagnosed on March 11.
She started chemotherapy the next day.
‘The first 30 days were the most difficult,? Halee said. ‘They want to put the cancer into remission right away.?
When she lost her hair in July, her father, grandfather, uncle, and friends had their heads shaved in support.
‘She’s a normal kid, just with no hair,? Mitch said.
‘She loves to play with her dolls, get her nails painted, and play with her brother (Morgan, 5),? Halee said.
‘She wants to be one of the boys,? Mitch said.
Addison faces more than two years of treatment, including eight forms of chemotherapy, with prognosis of more than 90 percent.
‘I want to thank everyone for their support, love, and prayers,? Halee said.
Both graduates of Brandon High School, they and their friends are organizing Addison’s Hope 4 ALL Walk, Sunday, Oct. 11. Registration starts at 9 a.m., walk from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Brandon High School track, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.
Activities will also include face painting, animal balloons, inflatables, clown, and games.
‘It’s going well ? we expect a good turnout,? Halee said. ‘We have about 100 so far.?
The walk will help offset medical and travel expense for the Tong family, and raise awareness about childhood cancer by supporting foundations such as Rainbow Connection.
‘We hope to do this every year, with proceeds going to different foundations,? Halee said.
Registration forms are available at walk4addison.com or by emailing walk4addison@yahoo.com.