Baby Beats Leukemia After Transplant

Jackson Virga, a 1-year-old from Gonzales, is now free of detectable leukemia cells after a bone marrow transplant, according to his family and a May 31 report by Unfiltered with Kiran. The child, who was diagnosed last year with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, or JMML, underwent the procedure in late March after chemotherapy and pre-transplant testing. His family said doctors found no leukemia cells in his blood or bone marrow after the transplant. Jackson turned 1 on April 23, and his family remains in Memphis while he is monitored after treatment. ### What did doctors find after Jackson’s transplant? Jackson’s family said post-transplant testing showed no leukemia cells in his blood or bone marrow. The update came about two months after the late-March procedure and marked the clearest sign yet that the transplant had worked as intended. Unfiltered with Kiran reported on May 31 that Jackson had completed the transplant after what the family described as rigorous preparation and testing. The outlet said the donor was a 100% match. ### What is JMML, the disease Jackson was treated for? JMML, or juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, is a rare childhood leukemia that typically affects infants and very young children. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says the disease occurs in about 1 to 2 cases per 1 million people and that stem cell transplant is the main curative treatment. The National Cancer Institute also lists hematopoietic stem cell transplant as a standard treatment approach for JMML. Jackson’s family has said the diagnosis came last year, after he was first suspected of having a bone marrow disorder and was then found to have JMML. ### How did Jackson get to St. Jude in Memphis? An October 2025 GoFundMe page created by Janay LeJeune and Jordan LeJeune said Jackson was 7 months old when doctors suspected myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, on Oct. 16, 2025. The family said he was sent to St. Jude in Memphis because the condition was rare for a child his age. A February 2026 Unfiltered with Kiran report said Jackson had completed his second round of chemotherapy and was preparing for a bone marrow transplant. His mother, Janay LeJeune, told the outlet that JMML occurs in 1 to 2 cases per 1 million people. ### Why is the family still in Memphis? Memphis remains the family’s base because Jackson is still being monitored after the transplant. Families of pediatric transplant patients often stay near the treating hospital for follow-up visits, bloodwork and checks for complications, and Jackson’s family said that is where they are now. St. Jude says children treated for JMML through transplant need close follow-up as part of their care. Jackson’s family has not said when they expect to return home to Gonzales. ### What support is planned next? A June 20 fundraiser is planned to help the family with ongoing expenses while Jackson continues recovery and monitoring in Memphis. Unfiltered with Kiran reported the event as the next public effort tied to Jackson’s care. The GoFundMe page for Jackson’s treatment remained online in recent weeks and described the family’s effort to cover costs connected to treatment in Tennessee. The next milestone the family has identified publicly is continued monitoring in Memphis and the June 20 fundraiser in Gonzales.