When Kate Hare gave birth to her son, Callahan, the joy of childbirth quickly turned into concern as he was found to have a serious health issue. Born seemingly healthy, Callahan’s life took an unexpected turn when doctors suspected a malignancy in his blood shortly after his birth. For Kate and Matthew Hare, this marked the beginning of a challenging journey filled with uncertainty and resilience.
Kate’s pregnancy with Callahan had been relatively uneventful, but when she went into labor on April 12, 2021, complications arose. Callahan needed assistance during delivery, leading to vacuum-assisted deliveries. Typically, babies in such situations are sent to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for observation. However, it became apparent that something more serious was affecting Callahan.
Learning more about infant ALL didn’t provide much comfort, either.
Matthew Hare, 38, recalled the moment they received the alarming news, “The doctor said, ‘It looks like there may be a malignancy in his blood.’ I had a blood cancer when I was 25, so when I heard her say that, I knew what it meant.” The word “leukemia” hung in the air, casting a shadow over the young family.
Kate, 36, described her feelings of isolation and worry when she didn’t hear updates about her newborn son in the NICU. She sensed that something was amiss and was haunted by a sense of being alone during a crucial moment in her life.
Further testing confirmed the devastating diagnosis: Callahan had infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The shock of this discovery was compounded by the fact that Kate hadn’t even had the chance to hold her son yet.
“I was in my head (thinking), ‘Is that a thing? Can you literally be born with cancer?'” Kate wondered aloud. The rarity of infant ALL meant that there were no established treatment protocols, and the family faced an uncertain path forward.
Matthew emphasized the uniqueness of Callahan’s case, explaining that infant ALL is distinct from childhood leukemia and presents its own set of challenges. The rarity of the condition makes it difficult to study and understand, leaving the family with unanswered questions about why Callahan was born with cancer.
Despite genetic testing, no clear genetic cause for Callahan’s cancer was identified, leaving the family puzzled. Cancer in newborns, especially leukemia, is exceptionally rare, making it a medical challenge to research and comprehend.
Callahan’s diagnosis prompted the family to embark on a grueling treatment journey. They chose to move into the hospital for eight months to ensure that Callahan received the best care possible. Matthew and Kate took turns staying with him while their 5-year-old daughter, Campbell, stayed at home.
The treatment was harsh and took a toll on Callahan’s little body. It was difficult for him to undergo normal development milestones while confined to a hospital room and receiving intense chemotherapy. The family had to weigh the potential benefits of treatment against its toll on their baby’s growth and development.
Despite the challenges, Callahan’s resilience shone through. He eventually started smiling and displaying his happy, playful nature. His parents were overjoyed to see him thrive despite the hardships he endured.
Callahan’s treatment plan involved adjusting to his responses to chemotherapy. Initially, the plan included a bone marrow transplant, but due to his reactions to previous treatments, the medical team decided to forego the transplant in favor of maintenance chemotherapy.
The road ahead remains uncertain, as infant ALL has a high relapse rate, but Callahan’s family is optimistic about his future. On December 1, 2021, he finally went home after months of hospital stays.
Despite everything, Callahan’s parents consider themselves fortunate that his condition was detected at birth. They believe that early detection made a significant difference in his prognosis. To help other infants and children with cancer, the family started the Callahan Murphy Hare Foundation, donating $25,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and advocating for improved treatments and screenings for young cancer patients.
Matthew stressed the importance of tailored treatments for children, highlighting that many cancer drugs were originally developed for adults. He expressed gratitude that Callahan responded well to treatment, but he recognized the challenges faced by other infants with cancer.
The family is grateful for Callahan’s progress, celebrating his first birthday and enjoying moments of normalcy, including a vacation. Kate reflected on their journey, saying, “I can say with 100% certainty if it was not found at birth we would not be where we are now. It was honestly dumb luck that it happened the way that it did — because had we gone home, it would be a very different story for us.”
