Zeke’s Story

Zeke is an energetic two‑year‑old who loves playing peek‑a‑boo and racing his toy cars. He lives in Medford with his parents, Ryan and Kate, and his three siblings Ben, Amelia and Zach.

When Zeke was 15 months old, his parents began noticing small red spots on his skin and frequent bruising. At first, they assumed it was typical toddler behavior — learning to walk, bumping into things, and roughhousing with his siblings. But one Sunday at church, Ryan noticed another child Zeke’s age without a single bruise and realized something might be wrong. They decided to contact their pediatrician.

Nothing can prepare a parent for the news Ryan and Kate received: Zeke had leukemia, a cancer of the blood. His bruising and petechiae were caused by an overproduction of cancerous white blood cells and a severe lack of platelets, which led to bleeding under the skin. His full course of treatment will span two and a half years.

After the diagnosis, Zeke was brought to Asante for additional tests and IV treatment. The family soon learned that his initial treatment needed to begin in Portland, requiring Kate and Zeke to live away from home for a month.

“That was really hard, not having any friends or family nearby,” Kate recalls. “Everyone who came into our hospital room was a new person I was trying to keep track of, while also trying to process that my son has cancer.” That first month was overwhelming, filled with travel and support from extended family. Without the option of local care, Ryan says they likely would have had to move away from the Rogue Valley.

When they finally returned home and brought Zeke to Asante for his first infusion in December 2024, Kate was nervous. But what she found was an incredible team of caring providers who were welcoming, accessible and deeply understanding. “We got to know everyone really quickly. And they just loved Zeke immediately.”

At Asante, Zeke is treated by the same nurses each week — a consistent care team rooted in their own community. Their doctor takes time to explain every step and truly understands what the family is going through. With the addition of a child life specialist and Journey, Asante’s facility dog, even Zeke’s siblings now beg to come along to his appointments.

“It’s such a joyful experience,” Kate says. “It’s something Zeke looks forward to. A friend once said, ‘He likes going to chemo? I thought it was this horrible thing you were doing every week.’ And we said, ‘Oh no — he’s the star of the show.’”