Alyssa Tapley was only sixteen years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of leukemia known as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This disease occurs when T lymphocytes multiply uncontrollably and crowd out healthy blood cells, weakening the immune system and threatening vital organs. In Alyssa’s case, standard treatments failed to stop the cancer, and her condition deteriorated rapidly. Doctors eventually informed her family that the disease was considered incurable, and that supportive care was the only remaining option.
