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PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - Camryn Escobedo and her mini wiener dog Ivey are inseparable. It's been a rough year for Camryn and having Ivey by her side has made her recovery a bit easier.
Nearly a year ago, Camryn’s parents, Pflugerville Sergeant Kurk Anderson and his wife Kimberly held onto one another and cried. At the time, Camryn was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and needed a life-saving bone marrow match.
The Andersons felt lost and Camryn’s mother knew in her gut that something didn't feel right.
"I remember one doctor saying specifically, it looks like aplastic anemia but Camryn’s cells are abnormal and that's not something we normally see," Kimberly Anderson said.
Camryn was misdiagnosed, her family took her to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and learned the then-nine-year-old had myelodysplastic syndrome, an illness that can lead to leukemia.
"I was more relieved that I finally had an answer I had a plan I knew exactly what was going to happen with Camryn and I had hope for the first time," said Camryn’s mother.
The Andersons held several blood drives, hoping and praying someone would be a match and in December their prayers were answered. Camryn had a bone marrow transplant in January, underwent chemotherapy, blood transfusions and was under constant medical care.
"Camryn has been going through a lot emotionally,” Anderson said. “It's sad to see the once bubbly loving little girl that you used to have just feel frightened and I’m worried that she might not get to that bubbly child again."
Little-by-little, Camryn is gaining her strength back finding joy in equine therapy and celebrating small wins. It's a cheerful sight for her mother who advises parents to always go with their gut.
"I could've lost my daughter and that scares me,” said Anderson. "It's been a road for sure and it's one I wouldn't want to do again but I'm just glad to have our daughter where she is now."
Pflugerville Blue Guardians are hosting a golf tournament on August 2nd at Forest Creek Golf Club to raise money towards DKMS, We Delete Blood Cancer.