This Madison 6-year-old’s battled three forms of cancer & just received a life-saving bone marrow transplant

MADISON, Wis.– Every three minutes, someone in America finds out they have blood cancer. 1.3 million people are currently living with the disease, and leukemia accounts for nearly half of all cancer diagnoses in kids.

Liam Sanborn’s heard the words ‘you have cancer‘ three times in his short life. The 6-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 11-months-old and hit remission, only to learn he had a second form of cancer: chronic myloid leukemia.

“That’s super rare for kids to get. It’s typically only found in adults,” explained Shannon Ratchman, who works for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Upper Plains region, which encompasses Wisconsin.

“Liam was diagnosed with his second form of cancer just weeks after ringing the bell after finishing treatment on his first form,” she said.

Ratchman got to know Liam and his family in 2019, when the then-4-year-old was honored as a ‘hero’ at the organization’s ‘Light the Night’ fundraiser.

This May, Liam was diagnosed with a third form of cancer: ambiguous lineage leukemia. But Ratchman also shared some good news: Liam received a bone marrow transplant this October.

How you can help

After Liam fell in love with Grace Coffee Company’s ‘mascot,’ a real-life dog named Diego, the local business decided to donate $2 from every s’mores pastry and fall apple drink sold this month to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. With one day to go, they’ve raised nearly $10,000.

“The word ‘cure’ is something our mission is aiming for,” said Ratchman, “But each case is very, very different.”

LLS funds research to advance lifesaving treatments for people living with blood cancer and provides patients and their families with hope, education, and support, both financial and emotional.

Click here to learn more about other ways to help kids like Liam and LLS Upper Plains.

Click here to order from Grace Coffee (the menu items marked with a picture of Liam are affiliated with the LLS fundraiser.)