Caden Ledbetter's Online Journal

Caden Ledbetter

DALLAS - A Lewisville toddler suffering from a rare form of cancer will be the first person to undergo a stem cell surgery that uses his own blood.

The surgery will be one of the first transplants of its kind in the world, and will take place in North Texas.

"When his twin brothers are around, he tries to keep up with them, running after them," said Lexie Ledbetter, 2-year-old Caden's mother.

Back in July, Caden was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that is usually found in very young children.

"He's going to be going through some severe stuff, and you don't want him to have to go through it," Mrs. Ledbetter said.

His parents are trying to prepare him for the tough days ahead. Wednesday he will begin another round of intense chemotherapy, which will be followed up by a transfusion of stem cells right after Christmas.

"This is a very high risk procedure," said Dr. Joel Weinthal.

However, Caden may be in better shape than other kids with his condition. Children with neuroblastoma usually have their stem cells donated from another person, but Caden is using his own.

"This is certainly one of the first transplants that have ever been done in the world that a child's cord blood has been frozen away and used to treat neuroblastoma," Dr. Weinthal said.

Since they are using his own cord blood, his body is expected to have no problem accepting them.

"We just decided to do it out of happenstance," said John Ledbetter of saving his son's cord blood. "Come to the realization that we really do need them now."

It was a last-minute decision that may help save their son's life, but there are no guarantees.

Caden will be quarantined for over a month while his immune system grows back, but his family hopes he'll soon be chasing his older brothers once again.

"You just hope this is the last thing he has to do that is as painful as he has had," Mrs. Ledbetter said.

E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com