“I kept giving her the medicine, but the fevers were not going away,” Cooley said. “I began noticing bruises on her legs and she looked really pale. My mom ‘gut feeling’ told me something was really wrong.”
They visited the clinic again and insisted on a blood test this time. When the results came back, the physician at the clinic told Cooley to take Peyton to the local hospital emergency department immediately.
“The tests showed Peyton had extremely elevated white blood cells,” Cooley recalled. “The next thing I knew we were transferred to UC Davis.”
A frightening diagnosis, a trusted provider
A UC Davis Children’s Hospital physician promptly diagnosed her condition: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell)
“As a parent, you’re freaking out,” Cooley said. “But I knew about UC Davis’ amazing reputation, so I was very grateful we were there.”
After spending two weeks in the hospital, Peyton was able to continue her treatment as an outpatient at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
who also lost her hair.
"Regardless of how rigorous her journey was, Peyton was always a little ray of sunshine," said child life specialist Mackenzi Lee. "Her big and vibrant personality filled the infusion room every time she walked in."
Thanks to expert and compassionate care, Peyton soon regained her energetic self, even throughout two and a half years of challenging treatments.
Confidence abounds
Peyton has now been cancer-free for over two years and is currently in second grade. She is a joyful and open young girl who doesn't shy away from sharing her treatment experience.
"She likes people to know that she had cancer," said Cooley. "Peyton speaks for herself."
Cooley takes cues from her daughter and is not hesitant to share her own experience as well.
"I love how my daughter was treated," Cooley expressed. "Peyton did wonderfully, and I couldn't be happier or more confident in the level of care at UC Davis."
