For the last three years, 5-year-old Dylan Akers of Aldie has battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. On Wednesday, he completed his final IV chemotherapy treatment with his twin brother, Tyler, by his side.
Normally, this occasion is celebrated at the hospital with ringing a bell to mark the end of intravenous chemotherapy. This is far from normal times, due to COVID-19, however.
Regardless, the celebration went on in quarantine style— and bigger than the family could have imagined.
Photo: Lia Hobel
Friends, family, and community members participated in a victory parade Wednesday afternoon and congratulated Dylan while abiding by social distancing measures. The parade went through his Aldie neighborhood where he and his brother, mom and dad stood outside.
The parade began at Minnieland Academy daycare. The parking lot was entirely full of vehicles decked-out with congratulatory messages, streamers and balloons. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue trucks and local law enforcement led the procession.
Also participating, were members of the 501st Legion, a “Star Wars” costuming organization. Stormtroopers, Jawas, Kylo Ren and Darth Vader all came out to cheer and waive to Dylan.
Kona Ice, a mobile shaved ice truck, also came and donated half of its proceeds to WolfPack Childhood Cancer Foundation. This is a nonprofit Dylan’s mother, Melissa Akers, cofounded with several other mothers to children with cancer.
