OPERATION NOEL: Cancer diagnosis forms unbreakable bond between mother and son

For most Americans, the Fourth of July is a day remembered and celebrated with fireworks, hot dogs and pool parties. Adriana Bruno is not most people. She will always remember the Fourth of July for a very different reason. For Bruno that will always be the day her son was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I remember that day he was with his dad on the fourth of July, and that’s when he noticed my son had blood in his urine,” Adriana Bruno said.

Jayden’s health slowly started to worsen as time passed with no explanation. Bruno was aware of her sons weakened state in a way that only a mother would know.

“I noticed some changes in him, and as a mom you notice those things. I noticed growth spurts and I saw that his neck had gotten a lot thicker.”

Bruno and her sons father rushed Jayden to the emergency room, and within a few hours he was diagnosed with cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Bruno did not waste any time. The very next day, they began chemo therapy to treat Jayden.

“It’s been a series of events from then on. It has been a roller coaster,” Bruno said.

Bruno is not exaggerating when she says they have been through a lot. She has had a hard time keeping a job that allows her to miss work when she has to go to her sons doctors visits. She lost her apartment when she fell behind on her rent, and she still owes just under $2,000 to her landlord.

“Its embarrassing,” Bruno said. “I’m used to being able to provide alone, being able to give my son everything, and since he got sick that’s changed.”

Bruno is optimistic that the course they’ve been on is quickly shaping up for the better. Throughout her son’s illness, she has formed an unbreakable bond with him.

For Adriana and Jayden, things are starting to look up. Her seven year old son is now in remission, and her outlook on her finances are taking a positive turn. She is currently studying to get her real estate license, something she says will help change her situation with her son.

“Right now, I’m just saving, hopefully I can pay back what I owe that way we can move back to where we were that way my sons doesn’t have to lose his friends and his teachers that have done so much for us,” Bruno said.