YT: Boy Battles Leukemia

"Your Town" Marshfield: Boy Fights Leukemia

"When you get that news that your kid has leukemia, it’s literally a kick in the gut.”

That was the reality for Dave and Rebecca Krause, when their son, William was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during a family vacation in Florida. Four-year-old William became ill with a fever and began to show red spots on parts of his body. The Krauses knew that something wasn't right after their son couldn’t shake the illness.

After arriving back in Hewitt, William began treatment at Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital in Marshfield. The treatment consists of 2-3 hours of testing and bloodwork and ends with his chemo treatment. He’s parents say he hasn't experienced many of the debilitating side-effects from the chemo.

William’s cancer, which is also called A.L.L. is a type of cancer of the blood cells in the bone marrow and is also the most common type of childhood cancer. Dr. Michael Mcmanus says, “The cure rate has increased from 10% to now 80% and in some cases even higher."

The journey ahead for William and his family will be a 3-year period of ups and downs, but the family says they’re ready for the long road ahead.

"One of the toughest things as a parent…You never put yourself into that category of, okay, I'm a parent of a critically ill child. You just don’t imagine that” says Dave.

They say that there is no other option but to continue to be strong and stay positive.