Meet Hayleigh
In July 2022, what seemed like ordinary childhood fevers became the start of an unimaginable journey for Hayleigh and her family.
Her temperature would spike to 102 for two to three days at a time, then disappear, only to return days later.
"No one else in the family was sick, but each time they visited the doctor, they were told it was likely just teething or a virus. Then came the daily belly pain," Susan, Hayleigh's mom, said. "Anytime someone picked her up, Hayleigh would say, “You hurt me,” pointing to her legs."
By late October, Susan realized something more serious was happening. Determined to get answers, she brought Hayleigh to her pediatrician and insisted they run labs.
The results were devastating.
Her blood counts were alarmingly low, often an indicator of leukemia. Within hours, Hayleigh was sent to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem. On November 2, 2022, she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She began treatment immediately, which lasted two and a half years.
In January 2025, Hayleigh rang the bell to celebrate the end of her treatment. Today, she is doing great and thriving.
But the emotional and financial toll of childhood cancer never fully fades.
"Too few people realize that childhood cancer receives the lowest percentage of research funding from the government. The diagnosis doesn’t just affect the child; it affects the entire family," Susan said. "And for families not in a strong financial position, the strain can be devastating."
Throughout Hayleigh’s treatment, Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas helped ease the burden.
With so much time away from work, Hayleigh’s family often didn’t know how they’d afford day-to-day expenses. CCP stepped in and provided critical financial support.
"Children's Cancer Partners was a tremendous help during our battle because there were so many times we didn't know how 'this' or 'that' would be paid due to me missing so much work," Susan said. "We would not have financially made it without CCP."