Kyle man hopes for Christmas miracle

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) - Imagine going to the dentist and ultimately finding out you have Leukemia.

"I've never considered myself less fortunate until last April, when I had to rely on so many family and friends, " said Terri Moreno.

Moreno's strength is being tested this holiday season as her only son battles Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a hospital room far away from the comforts of their Kyle home.

"We've been watching Christmas movies trying to make it feel like home," Moreno said from a Houston hospital room.

"I keep telling myself it is just a little step that we're going to have to endure for now and things will be better soon," Terri said.

Doctors said Mark needs a bone morrow transplant to beat the cancer in his blood-- that's what's brought him to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Treatment to prepare Mark for his transplant has been incredibly hard on his body, going through seven separate chemo sessions in the past eight months.

"It will drain you fast and it will keep you drained," Mark said.

Their very understanding, knowing you have your good days you have your bad days.

Mark will receive stem cells from the blood of an unknown mother's umbilical cord by separating the healthy cells from the blood of the cord.

It takes only 30-minutes to transfuse the new cells into Marks blood, where doctors hope they will take and grow.

"I don't know if we will ever know who the donors are but we will always be eternally grateful for it," Terri said.

But Terri knows other mothers haven't been as lucky, as young couple from Dallas shares the same obstacles.

The two mothers have been each others support system since they met at the hospital.

"It's great to know we have each other," said Sonia Sanchez whose 2-year-old son has Leukemia AML.

After months of chemo the only solution left is a direct bone marrow transplant from Ethan's mom.

"Knowing that Ethan can get a part of me, it brings us together even more," said Sonia.

If you would like to learn more on how to become a donor just visit: Donate