Battling cancer: Blood drive set for Slatton, 6

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Dennis and Darlene Slatton’s son, Dallas, swings into action in his back yard much like any other active 6-year-old, belying the fact he has been in a battle with cancer for more than a year. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Darlene and Dennis Slatton’s son, Dallas, looks like any other active 6-year-old as he runs and plays with his dog, Cupid, in his yard.

It’s hard to believe he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma over a year ago. The disease, which accounts for about half of childhood lymphomas, is an aggressive lymphoma that occurs mostly in children and adolescents, but has a second peak in patients over 40.

Dallas was lucky in that he was diagnosed early on, after he had breathing difficulties one night in November of 2001.

“We took him to the doctor Nov. 15 and they had us take him to Vanderbilt,” recalls Darlene. “They drew several ounces of fluid from around his heart, and when they did that, they went through that tumor. He had a tumor that covered his chest.”

Fortunately, the disease is very responsive to intensive chemotherapy and the childhood complete remission rate is as high as 96 percent. Dallas is one of those fortunate 96 percent.

“He’s been in remission since about December,” Darlene said. “That’s not long after they found it. He’s just had to go through chemo. He’s got to go through chemo through November of this year.”

Even though he is in remission, Dallas has to take up to 50 pills a week as well as intravenous chemotherapy once a month.

“He’s in what they call maintenance,” Darlene said.

Local residents have been working to aid the family. Delores’ Market, along with Blood Assurance, is holding a blood drive tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. here in McMinnville to help Dallas in his battle, as well as to provide blood for our soldiers if it should be needed.