Hooray! No more IVs for Cooper

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 3, 2014

Tuesday was a joyous occasion for a local family whose 4-year-old son took his last IV chemo treatment after a three-year struggle with leukemia.

Cooper Sasser, who was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2011 at only 19 months, will continue to take oral chemo until mid-September, but mom Christy was ecstatic.

“He has taken countless IV chemo, oral chemo, had countless spinal taps and hundreds of blood draws over the last few years,” she said. “He doesn’t have to have anymore surgeries.”

Christy said Cooper will take his last oral dose of chemo on Sept. 20.

“We’ve taken it every day for 2 1/2 years,” she said. “We’ve learned to live a new normal life and not go around people who are sick and that kind of thing.”

Christy explained that the chemo causes changes in mood and temperature, but said she was thankful they no longer have to live with that.

The Sasser family launched Cooper’s Crew to help raise money for expenses, but Christy said the family is now in a place to give back.

Thanks to a generous donation, they were able to give chicken costumes and other items to help provide a “no more chemo” party for other children who complete treatment.

“When every child finishes chemo, they will now get a big hoorah,” she said.

Additionally, when Cooper came home Tuesday, friends and family headed by Pam and Bailey Byrd brought cake.

The group enjoyed fireworks in celebration of Cooper’s milestone.