DeeRonn Booker, the 2024 USBC Masters champion, has shared the most encouraging update since his leukemia diagnosis in July. In a recent Facebook post, the right-hander from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said he is back practicing and preparing to compete again.
“It’s been 3 months and 4 rounds of chemotherapy since my diagnosis, and my lab work is coming back clean with no cancer cells detected,” Booker wrote.
“By no means does this mean I’m cured; it simply means that my body is back to producing healthy red and white blood cells, which in turn is allowing my immune system to work normally again.”
Booker was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, and began chemotherapy straight away.
Transplant still under discussion
The next step has not been decided. Booker said a stem cell transplant is still being discussed and could begin as early as December, depending on whether and when doctors find a donor who is an almost identical match.
“The stem cell transplant would be needed to prevent this immune-system hiccup from ever happening again,” he wrote.
Booker said he would weigh the decision once more is known. “I have my own feelings about the process and procedures, and I’ll cross that bridge when we get more information about a donor and the risks involved. If the doctors can figure out how this happened in the first place, then maybe we can figure out how to prevent it from happening again without taking the risks associated with a transplant.”
Back on the lanes
Booker said he is back practicing and preparing for “a couple of the Elite Regionals coming up.” The PBA ELITE Regional Tour launched in September with 21 invitational events across seven regions. It leads into the PBA Regional Players Invitational in December.
His goal is to compete again through the end of the year, although he expects to travel less. “Travel will be limited, but I’ll show up when I can.”
The time away has also changed how he looks at the sport. “This setback has helped me see the game from a different perspective, as well as given me the opportunity to work with others in areas where they are struggling.”
A difficult summer
Booker announced his diagnosis on July 22. In an update on July 27, he said he had spent several days in intensive care with septic shock. He also thanked his friends, family and the bowling community, as we reported in July.
His sister, Kaprice Booker, set up the Hope for DeeRonn GoFundMe to help cover chemotherapy, specialized medication, medical bills, co-pays and possible travel for clinical trials. Bowlers gave more than $37,000 within four days. As of October 9, the fund stood at over $41,000.
The 2024 Masters champion
Booker is in his fourth season on the PBA Tour. His breakthrough came at the 2024 USBC Masters at Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas. He entered match play as the 58th seed of 64 and went unbeaten, defeating Anthony Simonsen and EJ Tackett along the way.
In the final he beat Patrick Dombrowski 217-177 to win his first PBA Tour title, his first major and the $100,000 first prize. A year earlier, he won the doubles Eagle at the 2023 USBC Open Championships with Mark Curtis Jr.
How to help
The Hope for DeeRonn GoFundMe remains open. Anyone interested in becoming a potential bone marrow or stem cell donor can learn more through the NMDP registry.
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