Haley was born on May 14, 2018, feisty and full of spirit from the moment she came into the world. With an infectious smile since she was tiny, she was always up to something and never slowed down.
In March 2020, after a doctor’s visit for a bad bruise, Haley was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. A seemingly healthy toddler, her diagnosis came as a complete shock and Haley was admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Two months into her journey, Haley became paralyzed from the chest down due to a reaction from her chemotherapy and spent 2 weeks in the ICU. Defying the doctors and physical therapist’s estimates, Haley was walking again within months.
Through many more complications, Haley finished Frontline treatment and entered Maintenance treatment in December of 2020.
However, in March 2021 Haley’s Leukemia relapsed. This time a Bone Marrow Transplant was the only option. After beating the Leukemia a second time, Haley received her Bone Marrow Transplant from an anonymous unrelated donor on May 28, 2021. After 51 straight days in the hospital, Haley was released and happy to be home with her family.
But on August 20, 2021, Haley’s Leukemia returned for a third time. Car-T cell therapy was attempted, but after an 18-month battle, over 125 days in the hospital, and hundreds of doctor appointments, Haley’s fight ended, and she finally became healed and cancer free in the arms of Jesus on September 29, 2021.
Haley spent 2 of her 3 birthdays in the hospital, so her family knows firsthand what it feels like to be in the hospital on your special day. As Haley’s first heavenly birthday approached in May of 2022, her parents dreamed up the Haley’s Happy Birthdays program.
The Haley Rasco Foundation was started to carry Haley’s bright light and smile throughout the world. Haley went through unimageable things, but her smile and spirit never quit!
Our mission at the Haley Rasco Foundation is to bring moments of joy to pediatric hospital patients and their families. Whether they are in the hospital for a planned procedure or a chronic illness, hospitals are not fun. If we can bring just one bright moment to that patient during their experience and bring a smile to their face, we’ve spread a little more of Haley’s joy in this world.
