- Hudson Whatcott, 16, was recently diagnosed with leukemia, years after his brother, Nixon, died from osteosarcoma.
- The Whatcott family, known for NixonStrong, now faces another battle with Hudson's diagnosis.
- Community support grows with #FightWithHuddy as Hudson undergoes treatment at Primary Children's Hospital.
SALT LAKE CITY — Seven years after a Bluffdale family turned tragedy into a mission to help others battling childhood cancer, they are facing the fight again.
Nick and Janessa Whatcott's 16-year-old son, Hudson, was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
The diagnosis came years after the couple lost their 7-year-old son, Nixon, to osteosarcoma, which is a rare form of bone cancer.
"I think we've been really devastated, to be honest," Nick Whatcott said. "It's devastating news to think that you go through it once and then you're back at it again."
Hudson is currently receiving treatment at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Doctors said early signs from chemotherapy are encouraging, but his parents said returning to the routines and emotions of cancer treatment has been overwhelming.
"I feel kind of numb," Janessa Whatcott said. "Going back to the hospital rooms, the protocols, the nurses, it's just kind of like a whirlwind. I cannot believe we're here doing this again."
'Nixon Strong'
The Whatcott family became known across Utah during Nixon's battle with cancer.
The phrase "Nixon Strong" was a rallying cry for supporters across the community.
After Nixon died in 2019 following a long battle against cancer, the family created the NixonStrong Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate childhood cancer.
Through fundraising events, including an annual baseball tournament in South Jordan, the foundation provides financial and emotional support to families dealing with cancer diagnoses.
"I like that because we've been able to share those kids' stories, too," Janessa Whatcott said. "They give them a voice and also kind of highlight how prevalent childhood cancer is within the communities. I think people sometimes just think it's one in a couple hundred, but we have a lot of kids up here fighting, and every kid deserves a voice in their fight."
The Whatcotts said they knew they had to do something to help others after so many people helped them through their journey with Nixon.
"Once you've been in somebody's shoes and you've gone through something, you can have so much more empathy for what they're dealing with," Nick Whatcott said. "So, for us to be able to help in whatever way we can, to help one of these kids or their family members, that's what the foundation's goal has always been."
Now the community that once rallied around Nixon is again supporting the Whatcott family as Hudson begins his fight.
Hudson, a high school athlete known for his toughness, first began experiencing symptoms several weeks ago, including chest pain, hip pain, fever and frequent nosebleeds.
Because of their experience with Nixon's illness, the family quickly sought medical tests.
Doctors soon diagnosed Hudson with leukemia.
While the diagnosis has been heartbreaking, doctors have told the family that the type of leukemia Hudson has often has strong treatment outcomes.
It also helps that it was caught early.
"It's a lot better odds," Nick Whatcott said. "I think it's around 90 to 95% as far as curability. But it's still cancer, and you never know."
For Janessa Whatcott, the hardest part is knowing what lies ahead for her son.
"I just know what he's going to have to do and how hard it's going to be for him at times," she said. "As a mom, that's heartbreaking, because you try to protect him as much as you can."
Community support
Despite the fear and uncertainty, the family said they have been overwhelmed by support from friends, neighbors, sports teams and the childhood cancer community.
"We've just had an outpouring of love and support," Janessa Whatcott said. "Sometimes you feel like you're drowning and having people rally around you helps so much."
Nick Whatcott said the family is leaning heavily on faith and community as Hudson begins treatment.
"All I can do is ask people to pray for him," he said.
Seven years ago, it was #NixonStrong. Now, as posted on the family's *GoFundMe, #FightWithHuddy is starting to spread.
It's a rallying cry meant to remind the Whatcott family they are not alone.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
