A Painful Landing, A Life-Saving Pediatric Leukemia Diagnosis at Jimmy Everest Center

When 4-year-old Tilli Estes took a tumble off the couch during playtime, she developed a sore back. Over the next week, the pain worsened and spiraled into unexplained fevers. Patricia, Tilli’s mom, took her to the doctor. Her symptoms were written off as bruising, though bloodwork revealed that little Tilli had anemia. However, when Tilli’s temperature skyrocketed, Patricia took her straight to the emergency room. It was there that she was given the diagnosis — Tilli had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Patricia and her husband, Corey, met with the oncology team at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Jimmy Everest Center on October 17, 2022. Under the leadership of hematologist/oncologist Dr. Osman Khan, M.D, M.S., associate professor in the Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, confirmed the diagnosis.

“We had accepted that Tilli had anemia, not leukemia, and thought that we were just going to learn how to treat it,” said Patricia. “When we were told that anemia was part of the leukemia, we couldn’t believe it.”

Tilli was admitted to Oklahoma Children’s that day.

What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Your bone marrow is like a factory inside your bones that makes blood cells. These include:

• Red blood cells (carry oxygen)
• White blood cells (fight infections)
• Platelets (help stop bleeding)

In ALL, the bone marrow starts making too many immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts. These cells don’t work properly and crowd out the healthy blood cells your body needs.

Acute means the cancer grows quickly, and lymphoblastic refers to the type of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that are affected.

Children with ALL might have:

• Fever or frequent infections
• Tiredness or weakness
• Bruising or bleeding easily
• Bone or joint pain
• Swollen belly or lumps in the neck or underarms
• Pale skin

These problems happen because the cancer cells take over the bone marrow and stop it from making healthy cells.

The main treatment is chemotherapy, which uses strong medicine to kill the cancer cells. Some kids might also need radiation therapy, a bone marrow transplant, or targeted therapy (special drugs that attack cancer cells).

Most children with ALL get better with treatment. In fact, the cure rate in the U.S. is around 90%. Adults can get ALL, but it’s a lot more aggressive and harder to treat in adult patients.

Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Tilli’s hospital stay lasted for a week. She had a small medical device called a port placed under her skin, which allowed doctors to give her chemotherapy directly into her bloodstream without needing to use a needle each time. After her initial hospital stay, Tilli was able to return home and continue treatment through regular clinic visits to the Jimmy Everest Center.

Tilli’s treatment plan followed the standard protocol for pediatric ALL, beginning with an intensive phase of chemotherapy for six to eight months. She visited the Jimmy Everest Center each week for treatment, a six-hour round trip from her home in the panhandle of Oklahoma.

“I have 10 children and Tilli is the youngest,” shared Patricia. “It was a difficult time being away from home so much. My fourth-oldest daughter was 17 at the time, and she really stepped up and looked after everything. Everyone did what they could to keep things functioning while I was at Jimmy Everest Center with Tilli.”

Tilli responded well to the chemotherapy with very few complications. She was admitted to the hospital a few times for a common side effect called neutropenic fever, which happens when the immune system is weak.

After the initial phase, Tilli started maintenance therapy, which lasted for about two years. During this stage, she was given monthly intravenous chemotherapy at the Jimmy Everest Center, and also took oral chemotherapy at home. This part of the treatment was to help keep the cancer from coming back.

A Little Survivor

Tilli completed her chemotherapy in late February 2025. On April 23, she rang the bell at the Jimmy Everest Center — a powerful tradition that marks the end of cancer treatment and celebrates courage, healing, and the bright road ahead.

She is now 7 years old and back to doing the things she loves: swimming, playing in the mud, and building castles.

“Everyone at [Jimmy Everest Center] is as sweet as they can be,” said Patricia. “There was always somebody there to answer the phone no matter what time of night it was. They are all incredible, and Tilli loves everyone there.”

Tilli has been through a lot for a little girl, but through it all, the team at the Jimmy Everest Center gave the family the compassion, support, and care they needed.

“At the Jimmy Everest Center, we take great pride in providing the highest quality care using the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments for children with cancer,” said Dr. Khan. “We’re part of the Children’s Oncology Group, a national network that ensures our patients receive care based on the latest research and best practices. We don’t treat children in isolation — we treat them as part of a nationwide effort to give every child the best possible chance.”

A Worthy Celebration

Celebrating 30 years of hope and healing, the Jimmy Everest Center stands at the forefront of pediatric cancer care in Oklahoma. Your support does more than treat illness; it fuels groundbreaking research, provides comfort to families, and ensures every child receives the most advanced, compassionate care possible. Every gift brings us closer to a future where no child faces cancer alone.

By supporting the Jimmy Everest Center, you help extend our reach, advance lifesaving treatments, and inspire hope in children and families across Oklahoma and beyond. Join us in shaping a brighter tomorrow for pediatric cancer care.

Learn more about the Jimmy Everest Center or donate today to make a lasting impact on the lives of children fighting cancer.