Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation

Family Stories

Faith Tittle

Deborah Tittle has had quite a bit of faith and patience in her life recently…and in more ways than one. It was just under one year ago that her oldest daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. Faith was a normal, healthy four-year-old until she landed in the pediatric oncology unit at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in September 2010.

“It was a very scary time,” said Deborah. “It all just happened so fast.” Faith stayed in Pittsburgh until October, when she was stable enough to be transferred to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, MD. She amazed the doctors when only eight days into her chemotherapy treatment, she was in remission. Nothing short of a miracle!

Unfortunately she relapsed just a few months later, with a much tougher road ahead. This time around she needed a bone marrow transplant, which was when Believe In Tomorrow stepped in.

Deborah, Faith, and younger sister Patience are an Air Force family from Fort Meade, Maryland, which is about forty minutes from the hospital. Since bone marrow transplant patients are required to stay within a 15-minute radius following the transplant, the trio moved into the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir in May 2011, just a few blocks from the hospital.

The three enjoyed their summer in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, frequently taking evening walks on the promenade along the water. They discovered the playground in Patterson Park and especially liked to see the ducks. With Faith in and out of the hospital so often, Deborah was glad for the convenience of being so close, even though the daily commute from Baltimore to Fort Meade could often be frustrating. Given the situation, Deborah said it has been a blessing to be in the Air Force, especially with such a supportive flight and squadron leader.

The Tittles frequently stopped by the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins for family suppers and the girls were especially fond of the Fido’s for Freedom therapy dogs. On the Fourth of July, all the families at the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir put together a cookout on the upper deck, which was the perfect front-row seat for the fireworks later that evening!

Deborah and the girls moved back home just a few weeks ago and Faith is doing great. She is well enough to participate in a summer camp through Johns Hopkins and is very excited to start kindergarten this year. We wish the best of luck to little Faith, her mom, and younger sister, as they continue together on the road to recovery!