Baby Boy Born Covered in Bruises Due to Rare Leukemia Finishes 12 Months of Chemotherapy Treatment With the 'Most Beautiful Smile' On His Face: 'He is So Bubbly and Happy'

When he was just five days old and weighing about 6 pounds, Natasha and her husband Nathan Lucas ultimately decided to start their son on chemotherapy in hopes of prolonging his life. Now, 12 months later, the parents are happy to report that Ashton has finished his last round of chemotherapy. (He did, however, spend his first birthday in the hospital.)

"For someone who has had intense treatment and a shit start to life, he is so bubbly and happy," Natasha says. "He has the most beautiful smile that would make anyone smile if they were having a bad day."

Ashton has spent more than 250 days in the hospital battling acute myeloid leukemia. And on Nov. 23, he received a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant. But they aren't out of the woods yet.

Ashton's parents are hoping their son will be released from the hospital in February 2022, and they've even started a Facebook page where they document Ashton's acute myeloid leukemia battle.

Ashton's Emergency Birth

Natasha was having a normal pregnancy up until about the 36-week mark. She tells 7Live that at 36 weeks and five days, she felt little unborn Ashton go "silent" inside her womb.

"My instinct was telling me he was there, but something was wrong," Natasha says.

She says this prompted a "sudden urge" to rush to the hospital; she wasn't going to take any chances with her baby's health. Doctors at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, ran Natasha through a gauntlet of tests, which all came back clear.

"Something else was rather odd and (felt) wrong. I said, 'He needs to come out now,'" Natasha says. So the following day, Natasha was prepped for an emergency C-section.

"I couldn't see the curtain. But one thing I knew … It was quiet … Ashton hadn't cried," she adds. "All the doctors looked at each other with facial expressions of concern. Had my instinct been right? I was hoping not but something is in fact wrong."

Natasha's instincts were in fact correct. When she was finally allowed to see her son a few hours after his birth, he was covered in bruises. His medical team then shared their suspicions that Ashton had acute myeloid leukemia. He was taken to a children's hospital for more tests.

"My husband and I were in denial," Natasha says. "We believed there was no way this is the diagnosis because there is no way a baby can be born with such a horrible disease. We were heartbroken to hear the possibility of our newborn having cancer."

Biopsies performed on Ashton's tumors confirmed that the baby had acute myeloid leukemia. His chemotherapy treatments began shortly after.

Understanding Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia, also known as AML, is a cancer that affects bone marrow the spongy tissue inside of your bones. It's a rare cancer overall, but it’s the most common type of leukemia in adults. Children rarely get AML, which also makes Ashton's diagnosis all the more heartbreaking.

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

This disease is caused when there's DNA damage to the cells in your bone marrow that give rise to blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues, white blood cells fight infections as part of the immune system and platelets help stop bleeding. Those cells are damaged in AML, and the damage results in an overproduction of unnecessary white blood cells.

How to Cope if Your Child is Diagnosed With Cancer

If your child is diagnosed with cancer, it may seem like the dreams you have for your family are falling apart. It's important to try to keep a level head after you've fully felt all of your emotions around the diagnosis. But it’s also important to feel all of those emotions that come along with receiving a cancer diagnosis.

The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment

As a parent, remember that you're not alone in this journey; your child's oncologist and care team are there to guide you and provide information and answers. Oncological social workers are a fantastic resource to help you sort out the financial aspects of cancer treatment, as well as other cancer-related issues. Skilled psychologists and counselors can be accessed to help you maintain good mental health through your child's cancer journey, to the best of your ability.

And don't be afraid to reach out to your support system friends, family, etc. for help through this process. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.

Contributing: Anne McCarthy & SurvivorNet staff

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