Nationwide — Jacola Youngblood, a 13-year-old African American girl from Lumberton, Mississippi, was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer after months of fatigue and weakness. Her family is now seeking financial help to cover travel costs for her ongoing medical appointments.
Before she got sick, Jacola spent her days focused on school and basketball. According to wlbt her mother, Nikcola Henderson, said warning signs started with constant fatigue, low energy, and later yellowing in her eyes that pushed the family to seek medical care.
Local doctors ran initial tests and then referred her to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. There, doctors confirmed a rare form of leukemia that typically affects much older adults. Henderson said only a small number of children in the country have it, including her daughter in Mississippi. At one point, Jacola’s liver was working at about 40 percent.
Treatment became part of her weekly routine soon after. Jacola now goes in every other Thursday for a 24-hour chemotherapy session, followed by two days of flushing treatments. Even though the cancer is no longer detected in her blood, doctors expect her to continue treatment for at least two years.
Jacola still tries to hold on to normal teenage life when she can. She said, “I feel good on my regular days. Like a normal kid. Like nothing’s wrong. Sometimes, I have a bad day where if it’s something bothering me, like I’m hurting or tired. I don’t want to be bothered sometimes. So I try to stay in my room.”
Her mother said the emotional impact hit hard, especially early in the diagnosis when everything felt uncertain. “You don’t know how they gonna make it,” Henderson said. “Is they gonna make it through it? You got all these questions in your head. I had my breaking point. I screamed to the top of my lungs.”
The family also found support through Make-A-Wish, which helped bring a positive moment during treatment. Jacola received a golf cart as a special gift and once hoped to take a trip to the Bahamas. She continues to encourage others to stay strong and trust their faith.
“Stay positive,” she said. “Don’t think, well think about it, but don’t overthink about it. And give it to God and lean on him.”
Travel has become one of the biggest struggles for the family. Jacola’s mother currently does not have a reliable vehicle, making the long trips from Lumberton to Jackson difficult for ongoing treatment. A gofundme has been set up to help cover travel costs and ensure she can make it to her appointments. It has so far raised over $4,500.
