Haydin plays until he crashes, according to his mother and his aunt, despite occasional pain and exhaustion from his cancer and treatment. (Cherise Kaechele, The Observer)

Haydin Thompson, 6, is a true Northeast Oregonian. He loves to be outside, riding horses and tractors and playing in the dirt. But as a leukemia patient undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Haydin is forced to stay indoors.

“He lives outside,” Cassandra Thompson, Haydin’s mom, said. “He gets cabin fever when he’s stuck inside (his hospital room).”

Haydin was diagnosed with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, in January. People with B-cell ALL are more prone to frequently contracting other diseases. ALL is the most common type of cancer among children and is generally considered curable.

However, Haydin is considered “high-risk,” the second of three groups. As a high-risk patient, the outlook isn’t as promising as for low-risk patients, and Haydin requires a more intensive treatment. He has spent much of the last six months in Portland for treatment at Oregon Health & Science University.

Affording treatment

While commuting to Portland for treatment, the family has to adjust to having only one income. Although Cassandra was working up until the day she learned of Haydin’s diagnosis, the regular traveling now makes her unable to work. She said the family is at risk of losing their house, because they can’t afford the rent without that “significant chunk of our income.”

She said Impact 100 assisted in a big way, paying for three months of the family’s rent. Some La Grande restaurants have also stepped up, donating empty soda cans rather than throwing them away.

“I don’t like to ask for help until I really have to,” Cassandra said. “I’ve always been that way.”

Instead of asking for money, she has requested that people donate empty cans that she can return to pay for the frequent trips to Portland and to cover the rent.

“I just figure most people don’t usually return (the cans) anyway, so that’s one way I can ask for help without putting people out,” Cassandra said.

Unfortunately, there was an obstacle with a recent can donation. Cassandra believes a number of cans were stolen from her front yard while she was out of town. Although someone mentioned leaving cans there, Cassandra’s husband, Robby, said they were not there when he got home from work.

“(The idea that someone stole something we needed) definitely bugged me at first, but I’m trying to let it go,” she said. “It’s just rough because every trip we’ve made, we’ve paid for through donations and pop cans.”

Still, donations continue to come in, either in the form of empty cans or contributions to the crowdfunding page www.gofundme.com/haydins-hospital-fund.

Coping with pain

While most families would be disheartened by the financial pressures of dealing with a major medical issue, Cassandra said she tries not to let Haydin see her worry.

Besides, there are bigger issues to worry about.

“He has good days and bad days,” Cassandra said. “He’s had lumbar punctures, spinal taps and bone marrow tests.”

The uncertainty is especially trying, Cassandra said.

“Every (treatment) phase is different,” she said. “We don’t know until the last day (of the previous phase) how often he’ll have to come back.”

She said they are now at one trip per week. That leaves very little time for Haydin and Cassandra to be home with the rest of their family.

Robby Thompson is Haydin’s dad, Gavin is his 8-year-old brother, and Landin is his 3-year-old brother.

“My husband works full-time during the week, but he brings the boys out to be with us on weekends,” Cassandra said.

Howard noted that prior to his diagnosis, Haydin had not spent a week apart from his younger brother. She said it was a major adjustment for the boys.

Additionally, the risk of infection from his ALL prevents Haydin from going outside or into other patients’ rooms, but he can go to the playroom — where he still manages to play hard, despite exhaustion from chemotherapy.

“He runs until he falls asleep,” Cassandra said.

Cassandra’s sister, Rebecca Howard, who has been like a “third parent” to Haydin, said they found Haydin napping in his pirate costume one day, apparently so exhausted he couldn’t change into something more comfortable.

An Eastern Oregon boy

Howard said her nephew has a way of charming the hospital staff.

“He really gets them going,” Howard said. “He had everyone convinced he’s hunted beaver, but he’s never actually been hunting.”

Cassandra said Haydin has never even seen a beaver. Still, hunting is one of his favorite conversation topics.

Howard said Haydin is “definitely from Eastern Oregon.”

During a game that gives its players five seconds to answer, one card’s question asked Haydin to name three animals. He named deer, elk and bear. The next question asked him to name three meats.

“Guess what he named,” Howard said. “Deer, elk and bear.”

Haydin said he also likes going to two different schools, one in Portland and one in La Grande.

“I love school. I love to learn and paint and go outside to play,” the soon-to-be first grader said.

Staying strong

Treatments, road trips and unknowns have not gotten to Haydin.

“He’ll walk into a room and (cheerily) say, ‘Hi, I have cancer,’ or “Look at my (treatment) port,” Cassandra said.

Howard agreed that he isn’t changed by his diagnosis nor his treatment.

“When he passes gas, he says, ‘You smell popcorn,’” and now other people at the hospital are saying it too,” Howard said. “He’s still a 6-year-old boy on the inside.”

Haydin said with confidence that he will “beat it, beat it, beat it.”