TRIPP POATS

Date of Birth: 6/15/2016 – Carilion Memorial Hospital | Roanoke, VA
Diagnosis Date: 9/18/2019 – Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) B-Cell – High Risk protocol
End of Treatment: 1/9/22
Port (Port-a-Cath) Removal: 1/21/22

Relapse: 9/7/2023

Treatment Hospital – Carilion Children’s- Roanoke Memorial Hospital | Roanoke, VA & Cincinnati Children's Hospital | Cincinnati, Ohio (Current)
Family: Father – Wyatt Poats, Mother – Christie Poats, Sisters – Henley Poats (5) & Maxine 

Tripp was an active, happy three-year-old boy.  Our family had just finished a Sunday afternoon and evening at the lake and Tripp was busy jumping off the dock for the balance of the day.  We had a regularly scheduled wellness check-up on Monday morning, 9/16/19, with his pediatrician.  Our doctor noticed that his heart rate was elevated and that Tripp had several bruises on his legs, as well as a paler complexion.  The physician ordered bloodwork and we sat and waited for the results.  She advised that we should go to the hospital, due to the low, anemic blood level lines that Tripp presented.  

We met with the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology team - based on Tripp's initial bloodwork from our general pediatrician.  The gamut of possible illnesses and diseases was laid out for us.  Tripp was connected to an IV for fluids.  More detailed bloodwork was performed and we waited for results.  Tripp had a blood transfusion on Monday evening to work to get his levels stabilized.  Additional study upon completion of a bone marrow biopsy in Tripp’s hip area was necessary.  Our family remained hopeful and Tripp's spirits were high.  On 9/18/19, we were notified that Tripp did have leukemia.  Although deer analysis would confirm specifics of his type of leukemia, we would begin treatment immediately.  

The following day, Tripp's surgery installed his Port-a-Cath and he received chemotherapy treatment via a lumbar puncture or spinal tap, despite no active leukemia cells located in his spinal column – as is customary in the protocol.  Tripp’s case was the most common pediatric cancer and treatable.  This did not provide much comfort or ease for a family entering the throes of pediatric cancer.  The good news was that Tripp would be able to be treated locally at Carilion.  Both sets of Tripp’s grandparents were by Tripp’s side and although they were located in different parts of Virginia, they were constants in providing support during the critical early periods of Tripp’s treatment.  Ultimately, Tripp was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) B-Cell, High Risk protocol.

Tripp proceeded to go through a frontline treatment which began in September 2019 and concluded in May 2020.  During the various phases contained within frontline, Tripp’s chemotherapy varied in type and the duration of the “pulse,” but he was seen weekly.  He received chemotherapy infusions through both his port and through spinal taps – which were less frequent.  Much of Tripp’s treatment was done in the Hematology and Oncology clinic, while other treatments were completed in-patient with multi-day stays.  Tripp was resolute and incredibly strong throughout.  It was an interesting time, with the world grappling with the early days of the pandemic.  Our family was able to be close together and be home together for longer periods of time.  It also allowed us to insulate Tripp.  While we did see some close friends, we generally stayed home due to Tripp’s compromised immune system.  There were many family walks in the woods near our house on the days when Tripp was feeling up to it.
The maintenance period allowed our family to resume more normal schedules, along with Tripp’s hair growing back in.  Tripp was able to return to his pre-school in the fall of 2020.  Tripp continued with his chemotherapy protocols, but the heavier medicines, while still integral in treatment, were scaled back in frequency.  Tripp began taking lower dosage daily chemotherapy via oral pills.  While still remaining cognizant of where Tripp was within his treatment, our family tried to make all aspects of Tripp’s life as normal as possible for the now four-year-old.  Entering the maintenance period allowed our family to establish an end of treatment date, which would be in early 2022.  The days that had dragged early on, now rolled along into the weeks and months.  Tripp had relatively minimal complications during the middle and back stretches of treatment.  He required a glucose meter as the long exposure to the chemotherapies did wear on his body.  Tripp began playing youth sports, stepped up and caught up in school, and became active with friends, as he emerged from some of the treatment haze.

For the first year off-treatment, Tripp was seen monthly at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology for labs.  Upon his first anniversary off-treatment, January 2023, Tripp began being seen every other month. Although Tripp completed his last chemotherapy infusions in December 2021, closely followed by his last oral chemo in early January 2022, on September 7th, 2023, the Poats family confirmed a relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Tripp started a new round of chemotherapy treatment on September 18, 2023. This chemotherapy led to severe complications that landed Tripp in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and PICU for almost a month. He was transferred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital on October 28, 2023 to recover from complications and to restart chemotherapy.

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