Central New York Mother and Son Diagnosed with Cancer 9 Months Apart

A central New York mother and son have been diagnosed with cancer 9 months apart.

Hearing your son has cancer is hard enough. Hearing you have it too is unimaginable. That's what happened to Tiffany Bonacquisiti of Mexico, New York.

Tiffany is a 28 year-old single mother to 5 year old Leiland White, who everyone calls LJ. Her world shattered in March 2018, when LJ was rushed to Golisano Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with not one but two different types of Leukemia; one a rare and aggressive form. "It was a very scary time for Tiffany and all who love L.J," says Tiffany's best friend Amy Clark. "He went through so much while he was in Golisano, from having MRSA to Pneumonia and a collapsed lung and spending time in the ICU, all while his loving super hero never left is bedside."

Fast forward several months from when LJ was diagnosed, Tiffany finds herself in a high amount of pain in her right femur area. Turns out she has cancer too, a diagnoses she received on Christmas Day. "Tiffany began aggressive in-patient chemo the next day to shrink the large mass in her leg," says Clark. "However the large sarcoma in her leg had spread to her left lung. All this while still taking care of her little guy who also has cancer."

Tiffany continues radiation to help shrink the mass in her femur. "We believe she will have an operation on her femur at some point following the radiation," says Clark. "The oncologist has not given her a prognosis at this time."

Taking care of LJ while facing her own cancer battle, Tiffany has been out of work for about a year. "LJ is still on Chemo by mouth daily and visits Golisano once a month for clinic," says Clark. "He's currently in remission but they don't have a prognosis for him because Leukemia can come back at any time."

A benefit is being held May 11, 2019 at the Mexico VFW to help the family with medical and living expenses. Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer can contact Amy Clark at 315-532-9071.

There is also a GoFundMe Fundraiser set up for the family.