By Cassandra Mickens

The Selma Times-Journal

This Oct. 13 online journal entry by Alison Deason

is what she and her family have

hoped and prayed for.

Deason’s three-year-old son, Parker, was diagnosed with JMML, a very

rare type of chronic

childhood leukemia,

and admitted to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., last September where he underwent two successful bone marrow transplants.

Now, Parker is in 100 percent

remission and life could not be sweeter. Parker was brought

home Oct. 14.

Mark and Alison Deason, Parker’s parents, resided in Selma before moving to Kingsport, Tenn. Mark was employed at Bush Hog while Alison was a teacher

for Dallas County schools.

Parker’s grandparents, Willie and Betty Deason and Bobby and Opal Missildine, still reside in Selma and expressed gratitude

to every one who sent cards, letters and kept Parker and his family in their daily prayers .

Parker, who will celebrate his fourth birthday in December, has an eight-year-old

brother named Reid who is &8220;just beside himself,&8221; Betty said.

Since Parker’s homecoming,

he is doing what all three-year-olds love to do: play.

The family is looking forward to celebrating the holidays now that Parker is home.

Last year, the holidays were brought to Parker while he was at St. Jude. Betty hopes Mark, Alison, Reid and Parker will make the trip to Selma this year. If not, she and her husband will go to Tennessee.