In 2007, 9-year-old Jason Bolton was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). His physician in West Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, tried chemotherapy, but it wasn't enough. Jason needed a bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, to survive.

Moving north
Jason's dad, Jeff, immediately began an online search, comparing non-pediatric vs. pediatric institutions, cord vs. bone marrow transplants, large vs. small institutions. He also consulted with his son's doctors, family, friends and healthcare providers across the country. Once Jeff decided to seek care outside of Florida, all roads led to Boston and the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation team at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care.

People came out of the woodwork, both at home and in Boston, to help the Boltons adjust to life in Massachusetts while maintaining their life in Florida as much as possible. Friends of the family worked with insurance providers, organized fundraisers and bone marrow drives, conducted research and donated airline miles, hotel points and cab vouchers. When the family arrived in Boston, locals opened their homes to Jeff and Jason's visitors, and the Boltons formed life-long relationships with other parents, the entire care team and the hospital's rabbi, Susan Harris.

Jason spent most of his time with the stem cell transplant team, who met with him and Jeff to discuss the treatment's progress on a weekly basis. After careful evaluation, the team determined that Jason was eligible for a cord blood transplant, which would minimize the risk of post-transplant complications, as these stem cells are less mature and can often recreate the patient's immune system more effectively than bone marrow stem cells. After his January 2008 transplant, Jason started referring to himself as "The Terminator," since he fought his AML with his "two armies of healthy white cord cells and the large support group of friends and family to help fight off the bad army of immature cells."

His many months spent in the hospital revolved around daily communication with his doctors and meetings with the care team, but during his recovery, he got to have a bit of fun, shooting Nerf balls, making YouTube videos and keeping in touch with friends and family through his blog.

Transitioning home
Jason returned to Florida in June 2008, eight months after arriving in Boston. But leaving New England didn't mean the care team stopped treating Jason. "Dr. Lehmann reviewed all of Jason's blood work over the phone and email and worked with his local caregivers in Florida for several months to gradually direct routine care to Jason's local doctors," says Jeff. Months after recovery, a much healthier and happier Jason returned to Boston for outpatient visits with his transplant team, nutritionist, psychologist and rabbi.

Today, Jason is back in 6th grade and as healthy as ever. Jeff is so happy with their experience seeking treatment far from home that he now counsels other families who are facing similar decisions. "I try to explain to them how they can go about traveling to get the best care," he says. "Once they determine what's best for their family, we figure out how to get them there."