‘I am praying every night’: Family leaning on faith as 3-year-old son battles leukemia

FARGO, N.D. (KVLY/Gray News) - A family in North Dakota refuses to give up on their 3-year-old son, facing an uphill battle in his fight with leukemia.

On February 24th, King Michael Pandan began feeling very sick.

“He wanted to be carried. He would come in and say, ‘I’m tired, I’m sick, I want to go to the doctor,‘” said Ma Ligaya Pandan, King Michael’s mom.

After hours of tests and being admitted to the hospital, the doctors had heartbreaking news for the family the following morning.

“The doctors told us he had b cell lymphoblastic leukemia,” said Pandan.

Ma Ligaya, who is King Michael’s mom, says the news from the doctor was a nightmare.

“It was really hard, actually. We are just hopeful. We are just holding to the hope he will survive. I know he will. He’s a fighter, my son is a fighter,” said Pandan.

The family moved to the United States from the Philippines in 2023. Ma-Leguya is a Special Education teacher in the Fargo School District, and her husband had to stop working to take care of their son.

“I’m still hoping that he will be OK. I’m praying every night that every treatment will be OK,” said Pandan.

On February 27th, King Michael began chemo.

The family says it has been tough on him but he is doing much better right now.

“Right now he’s back to his normal mood. Which is really good but the first few weeks were a struggle,” said Pandan.

According to Pandan, the doctors told the family his chance at survival is 90%.

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