Myles: Beating Leukemia to Stay on the Field

Since he was little, it’s been all about football in Myles’ house. But at 16, right after his playoff game and best high school season as a safety, Myles started to feel sick.

A leukemia diagnosis

At first, his symptoms were like a concussion — nausea, headache and fatigue — but then a cough, stomach pain and an incessant bloody nose shifted the playing field. Myles’ mom, Faith, got him tested for COVID-19 and mononucleosis, but both tests were negative.

“Myles has always had migraines, gut issues and nose bleeds, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary — especially in Colorado where it is so dry,” Faith says. “But when the severity began increasing, I started to get worried.”

The day after Thanksgiving, Myles got a bloody nose so bad that it lasted more than 30 minutes. His symptoms progressed and his parents immediately drove him to the emergency room. After labs and an X-ray, the doctor let Myles know his white blood cell count was astronomically high, and it looked like cancer.

He was then rushed in an ambulance to Children’s Hospital Colorado, where our experts diagnosed Myles with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He began chemotherapy treatment right away. Myles had many side effects from his treatment including pain in his hip, an intense allergic reaction and pancreatitis.

“The pancreatitis was scarier than the actual cancer diagnosis,” Faith says. “It was the first time we ever heard the word fatal.”

But his family is thankful for the incredible support from friends, family, their community and the team at our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Colorado Springs, who Faith says have become family.

“We absolutely adore everyone we have encountered along the way,” Faith says. “Two people who really stand out are Rachel and Heather. When I say they were one of Myles's biggest cheerleaders is an understatement. They deserve so much and truly made every visit fun even when they weren't.”

Giving back and getting back on the field

Through everything, Myles and his care team always had their mind on getting him back to football. After missing half of his junior year and his full senior year of high school, Myles graduated with his class and received his diploma — all while in remission. And after relearning how to walk due to the pain in his hip, the Colorado High School Activities Association approved Myles to play an extra year.

“Cancer takes a toll on any family, but our care team at Children's Colorado makes it their priority to take care of the patient and family,” Faith says. “Their care extends beyond end of treatment.”

Inspired by the care he received, Myles started a foundation, Mission 6Strong, to raise money for other families receiving treatment for cancer in Colorado Springs. Whether it’s gift cards for gas and food or “poke packs” filled with fidget toys to distract kids during chemotherapy, Myles wants to pay it forward to other kids like him. That work continues for Myles as a Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation Ambassador where he is raising money for patients in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Colorado Springs.

"They genuinely care about me outside of the clinic,” says Myles of his care team at Children’s Colorado. “They constantly ask about how life is going and if anything new and exciting has happened. The nurses make getting chemo and different treatments a more positive experience. They are always kind, uplifting and funny, and for that I am forever grateful."

Since graduating high school, Myles is thriving in college with just monthly follow-up labs. Not only is he off medical restriction to play football for the University of Northern Colorado, but he is studying Sport Exercise Science with a dream of becoming a physical therapist at Children’s Colorado after graduation. And in August 2025, he rang the Warrior Bell — officially signaling the end of treatment with his friends and family, care team and coaches by his side.