These two 3-year-olds became besties after spending time together in an Arizona hospital while they were both getting treatment for cancer. Now, both of the children are in remission and had the sweetest get-together outside of the hospital rooms.
Mack Porter and Payson Altice were treated for different types of cancer at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, but each of them was isolated because of the pandemic until they met.
When they were sent home earlier this summer, the pair spent several weeks apart in their towns, half an hour away from each other.
Their sweet reunion happened when their parents decided to meet and bring them together, this time, outside of the hospital rooms.
Pair of 3-Year-Olds Become Fast Friends while Fighting Cancer together
Several weeks after her third birthday in 2020 September, Payson got a diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mack was diagnosed in 2021 January with Stage 3 Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.
Due to the pandemic, their treatment involved limited visitors and a shuttered playroom. Traci Barrett, Payson’s mom, says how her daughter was so isolated and she would ask for new toys every five minutes.
But this changed when Mack came along.
Dani Porter, Mack’s mom said how she immediately knew that her son would love to play with Payson. She approached Traci to ask if Payson would like to go for a walk with her son.
Soon enough, the pair was playing together. Photos of them taken during their treatment show them coloring, playing with toys, and dressing up. Their parents said both of them love Peppa Pig and have taught each other about dancing and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Both of them went into remission and could go home.
The Toddlers Were Missing One Another
Although both families got the happiest news, the two toddlers were missing each other. Mack’s mom said how her son would ask her every morning when he could play with Payson.
After three weeks apart, they finally reunited.
The loveliest video shows them seeing each other and Mack bringing Payson a bouquet of flowers. They hugged and then danced together inside. Dani said that it was a blessing seeing their kids being kids.
For Traci, during these hard times, regardless of what, you just look at the kids because they lead the way. The sweetest BFF duo has continued their meet-ups for playdates and both are expected to start preschool in the fall.
If you want to donate for their treatments, both kids have GoFundMe pages.
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