Mindanao Boy Makes History with Groundbreaking CAR T Cancer Treatment in Shanghai
In a landmark medical achievement, 10-year-old Dezier Grye Daclan from Mindanao has become the first patient in the region—and potentially the entire Philippines—to receive Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR T) cell infusion for an aggressive type of blood cancer. The treatment was administered at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center's Innovative Diagnosis and Treatment Department (SCMC-DIDT), facilitated by Dr. Jiaoyang Cai, after Grye battled the disease for four years.
A Journey of Faith and Resilience
"I already wanted to give up, but my heart didn't want to, so I prayed again. When I had my second relapse, I still felt down, but there was peace because of my trust in Jesus," said Grye, reflecting on his struggles with Philadelphia-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a high-risk subtype diagnosed when he was six. His deep faith has been a constant companion through two failed treatments: the Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) Protocol and the New York Protocol, both intensive chemotherapy regimens.
From Symptoms to Diagnosis
Grye's cancer journey began with seemingly minor symptoms: leg pain, toothache, and neck swelling. Initially attributed to his active habits, these signs escalated until he could no longer stand, leading to a hospital visit where low white blood cell counts revealed leukemia. His parents, Drexel and Kimberly Anne Daclan, both bank employees at the time, faced financial hurdles but found hope at the Children's Cancer Institute (CCI) in Davao's Southern Philippines Medical Center, where treatment was provided for free through community support.
Networking for a Lifeline
After Grye's second relapse in late 2025, Dr. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo of CCI leveraged her network from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Global Master's Program to connect with Dr. Jiaoyang Cai in Shanghai. This collaboration enabled Grye to qualify for CAR T therapy, a cutting-edge treatment that reprograms a patient's own T cells to target and destroy cancer cells. With urgent coordination by Dr. Lesley Tiu and support from the Chinese Consulate in Davao, Grye, his father, and Dr. Cheryl Lyn Diez obtained visas within 24 hours and flew to Shanghai just before Chinese New Year in February 2026.
Challenges and Compassion in a Foreign Land
In Shanghai, Grye was the only Filipino patient, facing language barriers and medical complexities. Despite this, acts of kindness—like a fellow patient's mother assisting with supplies and gifts from the Love Foundation—reinforced his family's sense of divine presence. The treatment itself was arduous, involving central venous catheters and side effects like Cytokine Release Syndrome, but by March 20, 2026, Grye's bone marrow showed zero cancer cells.
A New Beginning with Ongoing Support
Returning home with complimentary tickets from Philippine Airlines, Grye now enjoys a needle-free life, though he will be monitored for two more years. Financial and logistical aid from the House of Hope Foundation, along with educational support through Dumanlas Elementary School, has eased the family's burden. Drexel, who left his job to accompany Grye, marvels at the overflowing help, while Grye continues to pray: "Papa Jesus, I know you are hearing my prayers. I know that You know I am waiting for the right time according to Your Will."
This story, shared with consent from CCI, highlights not only medical innovation but also the power of faith, community, and international cooperation in overcoming pediatric cancer.
