A Heartfelt Conversation with Visionary and Co-Founder, Devan Kline, and Ashley Wiggs, whose daughter, Piper, battled blood cancer.
In our ongoing series of ‘Be Their Hero’ stories of hope and healing in support of our national fundraising campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, we are honored to share the inspiring journey of the Wiggs family. Mother, Ashley, and daughter, Piper, recently sat down with Burn Boot Camp Visionary and Co-Founder, Devan Kline, to talk about Piper’s 2021 diagnosis and the incredible strength that has defined their story. Supported by her loving family, Dad, Rhys, and big brother, Morgan, Piper’s resilience shines brightly.
When Piper and her mother visited Burn Boot Camp Headquarters, the sparkle in Piper’s eyes and her infectious smile served as a testament to her undeniable strength and spirit.
Despite her battle with blood cancer, Piper’s enthusiasm was met with a Blue Carpet warm welcome including pom poms and uplifting music — a fitting display of the love and support she undoubtedly deserves. She spent time doing arts and crafts around the office and making friends with everyone she met.
During Ashley’s interview with Devan, she dove into Piper’s early years, marked by close monitoring due to her congenital combined immunodeficiency. It was in January of 2021, when a concerning drop in her white blood cell counts issued a red flag. Just nine months later, Piper was diagnosed with Neutropenia—a condition characterized by a deficiency of neutrophils—a critical type of white blood cell crucial for combatting certain infections, especially those caused by bacteria.
Following Piper’s diagnosis, a bone marrow biopsy was conducted to rule out cancer so that Piper could begin Neupogen to battle Neutropenia. To her family’s dismay, Piper was subsequently diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) on September 21, 2021.
Typically, after the first round of Leukemia treatment, patients will be in remission by the end of the first month of treatment; however, that was not the case for Piper. Persistent cancer cells in her bone marrow biopsy necessitated a second, more rigorous phase of treatment including consolidation which proved to be twice as long as the initial round.
Fast forward to January 2022, when Piper received the wonderful news of achieving remission following another bone marrow biopsy. Her family was over the moon with the incredible news and as of today, Piper has been in remission for over a year! Ashley shares “I’m grateful to read her bedtime stories at home instead of in a hospital room.” We are grateful for every donation made to LLS, as it plays a pivotal role in enabling kids like Piper to embrace remission and spend their days at home with loved ones, free from hospital confines.
Check out the complete podcast to hear Ashley share her heart through Piper’s emotional and touching story. Piper even shares some of her favorites including who her favorite superhero is.
Every contribution made allows LLS to continue critical research to fight and make strides towards a cure for blood cancer. Make a difference today by donating to our national fundraising campaign.
