Everyone in Louisville knows there’s nothing quite like Kentucky Derby day. Whether you’re at Churchill Downs or celebrating at home with family and friends, the sights are often similar: big hats, fun suits and cheering for your favorite horse. But for the Furlong family, Derby Day 2024 will always be memorable — and not for the reasons you’d expect. It was the start of a serious health scare for their 10-year-old son, Elijah.
During the Furlongs’ family gathering for Derby, Elijah wasn’t his usual energetic self. While everyone else was enjoying Derby Day, he didn’t want to leave the couch, complaining of shortness of breath.
Elijah’s mother, Jackie, assumed it was a spring cold.
“I resolved to take him to be seen the next day if his symptoms persisted,” she said.
What began as a routine precaution quickly turned into a life-altering journey.
After an initial visit to an immediate care center, Elijah was treated for suspected asthma. When his symptoms didn’t improve, Jackie brought him to his pediatrician, who referred Elijah to an allergy and asthma specialist. But the very next day, May 9, Elijah’s condition worsened dramatically.
“I got a call as I headed into work that he wasn’t well and needed to be seen, so I took him to the ER,” Jackie said.
A chest X-ray revealed Elijah’s right lung was functioning at only 10% due to fluid buildup. Within hours, he was transported by ambulance to Norton Children’s Hospital.
At the emergency department, the Norton Children’s team acted quickly. Elijah was fitted with a chest tube and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where scans revealed a large mass pressing on his heart and arteries.
The diagnosis was something no parent wants to hear: T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.
“It was a whirlwind,” Jackie said. “My once very healthy 10-year-old was now in the PICU, surrounded by wires and tubes, and we were being told he had cancer. It didn’t feel real.”
Elijah’s care team stabilized him, then transferred him to Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, on the inpatient oncology floor, 7 West. There, the Furlong family received more than expertise in cancer care. They were surrounded by a care team that provided community, compassion and hope.
“Words cannot describe how grateful we are for our family at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, especially the team on 7 West and the fourth floor of the Novak Center [for Children’s Health],” Jackie said. “Every person has a vested interest in not only seeing Eli get better but also seeing him as a human.”
Throughout Elijah’s treatment, the Furlongs formed lasting bonds with Elijah’s care team at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute. According to Jackie, Judith M. Kabat, M.D., Elijah’s oncologist; and oncology nurse Anita Cambron, R.N.; provided excellent care that went above and beyond.
“Anita will always hold a special place for me for the way she takes her time to explain everything and always makes herself available when I call. She jokes with Eli and always makes sure he’s comfortable,” she said. “Dr. Kabat is brilliant and kind. We love her, too!”
Jackie shared a story that speaks volumes about the culture of care at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute: During Elijah’s biopsy, she and Eli’s father were filled with anxiety. According to Jackie, Ashok B. Raj, M.D., pediatric hematologist/oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, noticed their distress.
“He logged into the computer right there in the eighth floor waiting room and sat with us for 20 minutes,” Jackie said. “He walked us through plans and outcomes, answered every question. And later, when Elijah had difficulty with his IV, Dr. Raj did it himself, and it worked perfectly until Eli’s port was placed. The man is an angel.”
Now, one year into treatment, Elijah is in the maintenance phase and shows no evidence of disease. He’s been able to go back to school and the normal life of a 10-year-old kid who loves horses and the outdoors.
According to Jackie, her son’s strength and bravery inspires everyone around him.
“Elijah is absolutely my hero,” she said.