TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — Three Tifton siblings have each faced their own life-threatening health battles and their mother has been by their side for every diagnosis, every hospital stay and every four-hour drive to Atlanta.

Jocelyn Tarrant’s children, Jayden, Preslee and Lucas Wall, have battled cancer, a congenital heart defect and a rare immune disorder. Through it all, the family says they refuse to fall apart.

Jayden’s Fight

In November 2022, Jayden Wall was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an aggressive, fast-growing blood cancer, according to his oncologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s).

What followed were years of grueling treatment, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and drives to Atlanta for treatment at Children’s.

The chemotherapy left lasting effects. Wall said he developed avascular necrosis (AVN), causing dead bone tissue throughout his legs and ending his ability to play soccer. He said he also suffered from leukoencephalopathy, a condition in which chemotherapy crossed his blood-brain barrier, causing stroke-like episodes.

“I think it’s a little different because the treatment changes,” Jayden said. “Everybody goes through a little bit of everything differently.”

Through it all, Jayden continued his education, completing schoolwork from his hospital bed.

On March 18, 2026, he rang his end-of-treatment bell. This fall, he will attend Savannah State University to study marine biology.

The Children’s medical staff reflected on Jayden’s bell-ringing moment.

“It’s such a great day, because you are able to sort of step outside of everything with them for just a few minutes,” Dr. Wait Aumann, a pediatric oncologist at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Centers of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said. “I get to remember all of the different things that he’s been through — all of the different therapies, the different doctors I’ve had to send him to. It’s a great reminder of all of the work that we put in to get our kids to this point.”

Preslee’s Emergency

In March 2025, while Jayden was still in treatment, his 5-week-old sister, Preslee, stopped breathing in the middle of the night. Tarrant drove back to Children’s for care.

Preslee was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent emergency open-heart surgery, Tarrant said.

Dr. Aumann said the leukemia clinic staff rallied around the family when Preslee was rushed to Children’s.

“She’s got the heart of gold and we all felt terrible for her,” he said. “I know that she appreciated people coming to see her and having that community here at Children’s helped her kind of get through this.”

Tarrant said they are navigating her diagnosis, but she is doing well. This year, Preslee turned 1 and took her first steps.

“She started right before her first birthday, then she stopped,” Tarrant said. “And now she’s walking everywhere.”

Lucas’s Diagnosis

Just when the family thought the worst was behind them, the second brother, Lucas, was diagnosed in Jan. 2026 with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID). Medical experts say it is a rare immune disorder that affects the body’s ability to fight infection. Tarrant said Lucas receives intravenous infusions to support his immune system and is currently in treatment.

“Just when you think you’re finishing up with the other two, ‘Surprise,’” the mom said. “But we’re doing good.”

‘One Day at a Time’

For Tarrant, navigating three children’s diagnoses has been overwhelming but she said there was never a choice but to keep going.

“It’s hard. You know, you have your moments, but you do what you have to do for your kids,” Tarrant said. “This is what they need, and this is what you got to do. You just have to help them get better.”

Her advice to other parents facing a medical crisis is simple.

“Just one day at a time. Just face one problem at a time. You just have to keep going. It’s scary and you don’t know what to do, but number one, trust in God. And then number two, trust in your healthcare team. Ask questions, advocate for your children,” she said.

For Jayden, the family’s resilience has been fueled by each other’s support and laughter.

“We got through it with a lot of jokes,” Jayden said. “People think, should we make light of the situation? But you have to. That’s the only way to get through it.”

Pruitt Health Ocilla also held a fundraiser for the family in 2025, helping with the family’s bills while Tarrant was out of work after Preslee’s diagnosis.

The family has created a GoFundMe to assist with financial challenges. Tarrant said they appreciate the support as they navigate through multiple medical journeys.

https://gofund.me/360fb66df

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, Instagram and X. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.