Former Kentucky Wildcats standout and current Jacksonville Jaguars star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen shared emotional news on Friday, with his 7-year-old son Wesley recovering after a battle with cancer.
In a heartfelt three-minute video posted on social media, Hines-Allen and his wife, Kaitlyn, revealed that Wesley was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia just before the Jaguars’ 2023 season finale. Hines-Allen missed that game for what was then listed as “personal reasons.” Now we know why.
“It just kind of like hit me, and then nothing else mattered after that,” Hines-Allen said.
Wesley underwent six months of chemotherapy and is nearly finished with treatment. He’s expected to ring the bell next month at Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville, a symbol of completing the battle against cancer.
“Wesley is doing great,” Kaitlyn added. “He’s swimming every day. He’s running around. He’s playing sports.”
Make a news more five hundred words
Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Jaguars star pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen and his wife, Kaitlyn, have shared an emotional and inspiring update on their 7-year-old son, Wesley, revealing his courageous battle with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and his remarkable recovery. The news, delivered in a heartfelt three-minute video posted on social media Friday, sheds light on the personal reasons behind Hines-Allen’s absence from the Jaguars’ 2023 season finale, a decision now understood to be rooted in the most profound of family emergencies.
Seven months ago, the Hines-Allen family’s world was irrevocably altered when Wesley, then just six years old, was diagnosed with APL. The diagnosis came abruptly, following a high fever and even bleeding from a tooth, alarming symptoms that sent the family reeling. “It just kind of like hit me, and then nothing else mattered after that,” Hines-Allen recounted in the video, articulating the raw shock and immediate shift in priorities that accompanies such devastating news.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a rare and aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that affects the blood and bone marrow. While historically challenging, advancements in treatment, particularly with therapies like all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with chemotherapy, have dramatically improved outcomes for patients, including children. Complete remission rates for pediatric APL are now often greater than 90%, with long-term survival rates exceeding 80%. This promising outlook, however, does not diminish the intensity and difficulty of the treatment journey itself.
For Wesley, this journey involved six months of rigorous chemotherapy at Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville. His parents confirmed that he tolerated the treatment well, a testament to his incredible resilience and the dedicated medical team at Nemours. The family expressed immense gratitude for the unwavering support they received from the Jacksonville community and the exceptional care provided by the doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital.
Wesley’s progress has been nothing short of miraculous. “Wesley is doing great,” Kaitlyn shared with a radiant smile in the video. “He’s swimming every day. He’s running around. He’s playing sports.” Hines-Allen added that his son has “got back to being the big brother that he is,” a poignant detail that speaks volumes about Wesley reclaiming his childhood.
Next month, a significant milestone awaits Wesley: he is expected to “ring the bell” at Nemours Children’s Health. This cherished tradition in pediatric cancer centers symbolizes the triumphant completion of active treatment, a moment of profound joy and relief for patients and their families, often accompanied by cheers, confetti, and tears of happiness. It marks not only the end of a grueling chapter but also the beginning of a new one, filled with hope and renewed health.
Inspired by Wesley’s courage and their family’s experience, Josh and Kaitlyn Hines-Allen are transforming their personal journey into a beacon of hope for others. They announced the launch of “Four One For Hope,” a new campaign through their nonprofit foundation, Four One For All. This initiative will dedicate each month of the upcoming NFL regular season to supporting four different cancer-focused non-profit organizations. In September, donations will benefit Nemours Children’s Health, followed by the American Cancer Society in October, Ronald McDonald House Charities in November, and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in December.
“Our goal is to ensure that families going through something similar feel the same level of love and support as we did,” Josh Hines-Allen stated. This powerful commitment underscores their desire to give back and offer tangible assistance to those navigating the challenging landscape of pediatric cancer.
Wesley’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and the profound impact of community support in times of crisis. As the Jacksonville community celebrates Wesley’s recovery, his family’s initiative promises to extend that support to countless others, transforming a private battle into a public promise of hope.
