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Montefiore in the News
Bronx Mother Highlights Potential Warning Signs as Young Son Battles Leukemia
- February 5, 2021
A Bronx mother is speaking out from her son’s bedside as he battles leukemia in hopes to help parents see potential warning signs.
Jace Montanez, 4, is battling a vicious and aggressive form of cancer. His mother, Tiffany Montanez, called him “brave, resilient” and “patient.”
“He is such a fighter to be fighting a disease that he has really no idea that he has,” says Montanez.
She says she began to search for answers when she noticed that Jace had swollen lymph nodes and difficulty breathing at night.
He was diagnosed with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia a few days after his fourth birthday.
“Not only was I shocked... I was devastated. I was hurt, I was angry. It's just not one emotion,” said Montanez.
Dr. Lisa Gennarini, of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, says the cancer of the white blood cells will eventually start to show signs.
“When it's first diagnosed children often come in not feeling very well at all. Common symptoms that we see is fatigue, paler, bruising, rashes, fever is very common...bone pain,” said Dr. Gennarini.
As Jace battles Leukemia, which News 12 is told is most common between the ages of 1-5, others are fighting with him. A GoFundMe page has already passed $25,000 towards medical bills and care.
