Tripp Poats – Roanoke, VA

James Wyatt Poats, III

Tripp was an active, happy three-year-old boy.  On 9/16/19, we had a regularly scheduled wellness check-up 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 waited there for results.  We were then advised to go to the hospital. 

Now with the Hematology and Oncology team, more bloodwork was run and Tripp was connected to an IV for fluids and a blood transfusion.  Next was a bone marrow biopsy.  Our family remained hopeful and Tripp's spirits were high.  On 9/18/19, we were notified that Tripp had leukemia and treatment would begin immediately.  The very next day his port was surgically implanted and he received chemo via spinal tap.  He was soon officially diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) B-Cell, High Risk protocol.  For the next 9 months, Tripp received chemo through his port and spinal tap.

The following maintenance period allowed our family to resume more normal schedules, along with Tripp’s hair growing back.  Tripp returned 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. 

Tripp completed his last chemotherapy infusions in December 2021, closely followed by his last oral chemo in early January 2022.  Tripp had his port removed in January 2022, marking the two-and-a-half-year bookend to his treatment path.   

Update:

Tripp was originally diagnosed with leukemia in September 2019 at the age of three and underwent 2-1/2 years of chemotherapy. Tripp and his family enjoyed a cancer-free year and a half until his leukemia relapsed in September of 2023. He began treatment locally and suffered some major complications that caused him to be admitted to the hospital and eventually the PICU in Roanoke. His family made the decision to have him transferred to Cincinnati Children’s hospital to recover from complications and to continue treatment.

Tripp returned home recently after an inpatient stay of 142 days. He’s doing a lot better, but is still dealing with some of the side effects from the complications around his treatment. He will return to Cincinnati periodically to receive stronger chemotherapies, but can take many of the medications at home. He will receive a total of 2-1/2 years of treatment yet again.