A Montgomery High School graduate is alive today thanks to his mother’s swift actions after noticing something was wrong.
MONTGOMERY, Texas — A Montgomery High School graduate is alive today thanks to his mother’s quick decision to take him to the emergency room after noticing what seemed like minor symptoms. That visit led to a life-saving leukemia diagnosis.
For Leslie Holts, last May was a proud moment. Her son, standout football player Phillip Raglin, had just graduated and was preparing to head to Los Angeles to play football at Peace College.
“He’s finally done with school, and he was getting ready to start his life,” Holts said.
But before his big move, Phillip showed his mother something unusual.
“He showed me the inside of his mouth, and there were blood spots,” she said.
Holts scheduled a doctor’s appointment for later that day. At the visit, she noticed something else — a bruise on Phillip’s arm.
“Along with the bleeding in his mouth, and then the bruise, that kind of alarmed me,” Holts said.
Trusting her instincts, she took her son to the ER. There, doctors delivered the life-changing news: Phillip had an advanced case of leukemia.
“Basically, if we wouldn’t have brought him in when we did, and he would’ve bumped his head or even something as small as a paper cut, he could’ve bled out,” Holts said.
Phillip was rushed to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he immediately began chemotherapy. It was a grueling fight, but one he says he faced with the support of his teammates.
“They just told me to keep fighting,” Phillip said. “And I was like, I got it.”
He also received a visit from Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, who recently overcame leukemia himself.
Today, Phillip is in remission and continuing follow-up treatment. His mother hopes their story serves as a warning to other parents.
“Don’t ignore any signs whenever your kids come and tell you, even something as small as a bruise,” she said. “If I hadn’t taken him to the hospital, it would’ve cost me my son.”
Phillip says once treatment wraps up in about eight months, he plans to start college and get back on the football field.
The family says they are now being overwhelmed by mounting medical bills. If you would like to help them in this difficult time, you can find a link to their GoFundMe here.