patient story

patient name: Blakely Mefford

age: 3.5 years

condition: hepatoblastoma (type of liver cancer)

seen in: hematology/oncology

provider: Lionel Chow, MD, PhD

What started as a late evening visit to Dayton Children’s emergency department would turn into a lifelong journey with Dayton Children’s cancer team.

Blakely had always struggled with constipation. She would have belly pain and swelling, would go to the pediatrician, and would leave with the common “clean out” regimen. In fall 2023, it started to get worse, and in January 2024, Olivia and Austin, Blakely’s mom and dad, began noticing more concerning symptoms. Blakely was grumpy and distant, she wasn’t hungry, and her belly was growing. Trusting their instincts, Olivia and Austin took Blakely to Dayton Children’s south campus emergency department.

Olivia shared her concern about the swelling in Blakely’s belly, and the providers quickly began drawing labs, scheduling an ultrasound, and doing a urinalysis.

“I was so thankful they were listening and we were finally going to have answers. Just not the answers I hoped for,” said Olivia.

As the results started coming in, Olivia began to panic - she knew this would not mean good news. The final test showed a mass on Blakely’s liver, and Blakely was admitted to hematology/oncology at the main campus. “I could barely breathe when we got off the elevators and saw ‘cancer and blood disorders,’” Olivia remembers.

support from the beginning

Blakely was seen by Lionel Chow, MD, PhD, and started treatment. The plan was not easy – Blakely would need to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy and ended up having “long and intense stays” in the hospital.

“Dr. Chow is the most personable, kind, empathetic doctor I had ever met. He knelt on the ground with us as we sobbed at the fact that our daughter was about to fight a fight no child should ever have to fight,” Olivia shared. “Hearing the words, ‘Your child has cancer’ is one of the most heart-wrenching things any parent can hear. It was like all the air had been sucked out of my body. We had no idea what the journey to healing was going to look like, but we couldn’t have been at a better hospital than where we were.”

Over time Blakely’s family built great bonds with Dr. Chow and their entire care team (they call them their second family), and with other families on the unit. Despite all enduring dark moments and challenging times, the families’ attitudes were optimistic and encouraging.

“The other moms and I checked in, prayed for each other, and there was such positivity shining through our conversations,” Olivia said. “Being able to chat about our struggles and fears of the future with others who understood was so helpful. It reassured us that we were not alone.”

motivation from new friends

Darcie Osborne, 15, and her mom, Brittnee, were both bright lights for Olivia and Blakely. Darcie would prance around the halls with her IV pole and play with all the kids in the unit. Her laugh and joy brought big smiles to Olivia and Blakely.

Darcie and Blakely would take walks together, stay up late and sit in each other’s rooms. They would wake up in the morning to just play. One of the most heart-warming moments was when Blakely enthusiastically talked about her new friend who ‘looked like her.’

Brittnee and Olivia connected through their faith. They encouraged each other by reminding each other to put their trust in God, and cheered each other on for strength to support their families throughout this journey.

“[Brittnee] is the sweetest soul… the positivity I needed,” said Olivia.

hope for the future

Blakely went through a total of seven rounds of chemotherapy at Dayton Children’s, with a liver transplant in the middle of these treatments performed at another regional hospital. In August 2024, Blakely was declared in remission and rang the ‘end of treatment’ bell.

Blakely will need to take anti-rejection medicine because of her liver transplant and will need to be careful about germs. She will also continue to see Dr. Chow and her liver team for the rest of her life. But her future is bright.

“Blakely Brave” is feisty, knows what she wants and fights a good fight, no matter how hard. Her contagious smile and resilience show how special she is.

“Blakely continues to say, ‘It was tough, but I am tougher’ and shows us her big muscles,” Olivia shared. “She is a resilient little one and she’s going to change the world one day.”

Blakely is part of a series featuring families who bonded together during their children's cancer treatment at Dayton Children's. These families supported each other through the highs and lows of their journeys - the encouragement, positivity and connection with this group helped them through their most difficult moments. Read more of their stories here: Brandon Watts, Darcie Osborne, Nolan O'Neill