BURRILLVILLE – It’s been a long battle fighting leukemia for one local 11-year-old, but through it all she’s had support from her community – and this week was no exception – as a contingent of local police and firefighters escorted her to her final chemo treatment.
Jaelynn Deschamps rang the golden bell at Hasbro Children’s Hospital on Monday, Nov. 10, signifying her last treatment.
A Pascoag resident and sixth grader at Burrillville Middle School, Deschamps was diagnosed with B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2023.
In the years since, there have been treatments and surgeries, injections and hospital stays, but through it all, Deschamps and her family did their best to stay strong.
And the community has been there for support. From a fundraiser bringing in more than $23,000 to help the family with medical expenses to the purchase of “Jaelynn Strong” t-shirts, many have done what they could to help with the effort. In September, Cops for Kids with Cancer presented $5,500 to the family at an event at the Burrillville Police Department and this month, Deschamps went on a Make A Wish cruise with her favorite YouTuber, Emily Roberts from Snake Discovery.
The family received word in October that she would receive her final treatment the day they returned home from the trip.
“When this all began it seemed like the end was light-years away… but here we are,” noted Jacqueline Deschamps, Jaelynn’s grandmother, in a post on her progress. “It’s honestly really hard to believe that it’s here.”
On Monday, firetrucks from town departments joined dozens of bikes and cruisers to assist Enzo’s Escorts for Deschamps’ ride to the hospital. A Rhode Island-based program providing VIP escorts for children completing their final cancer treatment in conjunction with local police and fire departments, Enzo’s Escorts has made dozens of journeys with young fighters to ring the hospital’s victory bell. The nonprofit was founded in 2020 by Rebecca and Dave Neri after their son Lorenzo “Enzo” received a outpouring of community support on his last day of leukemia treatment.
Deschamps and her family rode to Hasbro in the limo, with the motorcade leading them. At the hospital, officers and firefighters lined up to clap and encourage her as she entered the facility. Later, there would be gifts, and hospital staff would sing and wave pompoms, with Deschamps even dancing a bit to their adapted version of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”
“Because your chemo’s gone away ay ay ay ay. Such a happy day ay ay ay ay..,” they sang.
Marking the symbolic ending to her two year battle, Jaelynn Deschamps rang the golden bell.
“Congratulations to this young lady for beating up cancer, you’re a fighter and inspiration to us all,” noted Pascoag Fire Department.
A beautiful story. Congrats to Jaelynn!