A picture collage of Logan, who has been battling Leukemia. By. FAMILY
Sixteen-month-old Logan, the son of Anais and Claudell Monsanto — the latter a well known Virgin Islands producer and deejay known as Deli Banger — has become a symbol of strength and hope for many, after his battle with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), was made known to the public, which has since experienced the journey with the family and has coalesced around them.
Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. When Logan was born, he appeared healthy and was described as a happy, bouncing baby. But on December 28, 2019, at 7 months, he was diagnosed with ALL, the most common form of leukemia. Logan's case, however, is rare because of his age. The boy's grandmother provided the Consortium with some information about the family's fight over the past several months, a summary of which was also posted on his foundation's website.
September is Leukemia Awareness Month, and the family has organized a motorcade in honor of Logan as well as to raise awareness of leukemia. The event will be held on Sunday beginning at 5:00 p.m. from the Basin Triangle in Christiansted, and will end at the Altona Lagoon. The family is asking all who can, to come out and participate. For more details, call 340-626-0633.
Below, a portion of Logan's story, as found on the Logan Foundation website, which was written when Logan — now 16 months old — was only 7 months:
“We believe it may be leukemia,” are words no parent ever imagines hearing from their baby’s doctor.
These are the words that were not only heard but felt deep in the souls of Claudell and Anais, parents of 7 month-old Logan as the new parents took their baby boy to the hospital. Here’s how this Monsanto family’s first Christmas with baby Logan quickly turned into a bad dream they are still trying to awaken from:
On the eve of the family’s first Christmas, they traveled to Orlando to spend the holiday with extended family. On Christmas day, Logan was his perfect happily bouncing self, until he started showing signs of [what appeared to be] teething, placing his hand in his mouth and getting a bit fussy, but still no fever or any other major alarming sign. Less than 48 hours later, his appetite had decreased and he had started moaning and showing signs that he was experiencing some pain. After restlessness and sleepless nights, chilled teething soothers, baby Orajel and Tylenol, and still no relief, worried, Logan’s parents decided that it was time to take him to the hospital. After a scan of the infant’s stomach and physical exam, the medical personnel sent the family back home with a prescription for Ibuprofen and said he’s “probably just teething.”?
Still concerned, the family returned to their home after the short holiday trip with baby Logan in arms and showering him with prayers for comfort. They made one more attempt with purchasing teething tabs, hoping that they would bring some relief. However, while waiting in the car for dad to return with the teething tabs, mom picked up her baby boy and felt the infant limp in her arms, weak, pale and appearing to be dehydrated. They knew it was more than “just typical teething.” The frantic parents took their baby to the emergency room for what they believed may have been dehydration because his appetite hadn’t been what was considered normal for their growing baby.?
Upon arrival to the ER, the infant was quickly given an IV and the medical personnel interviewed the parents to gather a bit more history and details leading up to their trip to the ER. The medical staff ran blood work, which showed that the infant was actually not dehydrated, but that his CBC “blood count” was “way off.” Because the lab results were so out of range, the medical staff drew more blood and retested, but returned with the same results.
“Leukemia. Cancer in the blood.”
Heartbroken, but definitely not defeated, the Monsanto family was transported directly to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital at 3 am. Upon arrival, 7 month-old Logan was given a blood transfusion, medication to attempt normalizing the white blood cell count, orders for a spinal tap, bone marrow tests and preparations to begin chemotherapy… All on Monday, December 30, 2019.?
Seven month-old baby Logan has been diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He has begun his fight via chemotherapy… This is a battle that we don’t understand why or how precious baby Logan should fight. Anais and Claudell have been by Logan’s side in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ever since.
