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After 14 months away from home battling cancer, 7-year-old, Zeke Puig has returned to his home in Phenix.

On Monday, May 17, Zeke and his parents John and Danielle were escorted home by firetrucks and police cars to find their yard full of well-wishers cheering and holding signs for Zeke.

“It was such a beautiful picture of the mighty prayer army that has been surrounding us since we left 14 months ago,” Danielle Puig said. “It is so incredible to actually be home. We are overjoyed and grateful that the Lord has carried us to this point.”

Over the past 14 months, the Puigs have been living in Pennsylvania while Zeke has undergone rounds of testing, treatments and bone marrow transplants at The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with monosomy 7, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

In March of 2020, while most were learning a new way of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic,  Zeke was getting ready to begin chemotherapy, leading him and his family on a journey that ultimately led his father John to give his son the gift of life in the form of  T cells.

Earlier this year, after both John and Danielle were tested, it was determined John was the best match for Zeke.

“After a few pre-exams, John went through a 2.5-hour donation process with needles in both arms taking out his powerful T cells,” Danielle Puig said. “The next day, they were then infused into Zeke.”

According to Danielle Puig, in April, Zeke began to heal rapidly, and every week, they saw more improvements.

“He came off all his IV meds, his overnight nutrition feeds, and got this line removed from his chest,” she said, “He is now on a few oral meds, eating, and gaining back physical strength as he runs and plays daily.”

Zeke is still undergoing weekly doctor visits to check on his bloodwork after testing positive for a virus he developed from the transplant; however, the Puigs said they are hopeful his immune system will continue to improve, and Zeke will be able to overcome the virus.

“God has been faithful. God has provided, and God has led us home,” Danielle Puig said. “We are thankful for this victory. The community has sacrificed much for our family, and we are so overwhelmed at the multitude of people who have been a part of Zeke’s journey.”