Ever since he was 5 years old, Eric Lenning has loved playing baseball. But, his opportunity to play in high school came to a halt shortly after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) his freshman year.
In December 2017, Eric began complaining of back pain while trying out for his high school baseball team. Assuming the Jackson, Ga., teen may have just pulled a muscle, his parents didn’t think much of it. When the back pain got worse, his parents decided to take him to the doctor and learned that he had two compressed vertebrae fractures.
Later that week, Eric’s back pain became excruciating, so he was rushed to the Emergency Department at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite hospital. He was diagnosed with ALL, the most common form of cancer, and doctors found five additional compressed vertebrae fractures that were caused by leukemia cells building up and crushing his vertebrae. Less than 24 hours later, Eric started what would be a nearly four-year regimen of chemotherapy treatments.
Eric’s family spent Christmas in the hospital that year, and the weeks and months that followed included treatments and several hospital stays. But, Eric has made it a point to stay strong and be positive. He has remained in the top of his class academically at school and he refuses to let himself fall behind in his schoolwork. Help from the Children’s family services team, including our School Program and school teachers, has helped him stay on track.
Eric recently started his sophomore year and is participating in dual enrollment—he goes to his high school for two classes each day and then takes three college classes. He is determined to graduate in the top of his high school class and with an associate degree in hand. He also plans to go off to college soon thereafter and study sports medicine or sports management.
“Eric is now eight months into his nearly four-year journey and he continues to have a great attitude and outlook on his life,” says Kim, Eric’s mother. “His hope is that his story will reach others and that Jesus will shine through.”
