How Texas Children’s Helped One Teen Athlete Get Back in the Game

When Brinnley (Brinn) Lisenby stepped back onto the soccer field just two months after finishing cancer treatment, it was almost impossible to believe.

Just months earlier, the 15-year-old forward and attacking midfielder had been in the ICU at Texas Children’s Hospital fighting acute myeloid leukemia, or AML — an aggressive form of blood cancer. She spent more than six months in the hospital undergoing intensive chemotherapy and treatment for serious infections.

“I just knew I was going to be okay and that I was going to fight it my hardest,” said Brinn.

That determination carried Brinn through months of treatment and helped her achieve one of her biggest goals: returning in time to play at nationals in Orlando with her club soccer team after finishing chemotherapy in spring 2025.

Today, Brinn is back playing varsity soccer, competing with her club team and enjoying the everyday moments that once felt uncertain, thanks to the care she received at Texas Children’s.

A healthy teen athlete suddenly gets sick

Before her diagnosis, Brinn was constantly on the move. Soccer had always been part of her life.

“I’ve always loved soccer,” said Brinn. “Since I was little, all I’ve ever really known has been soccer.”

At first, the symptoms didn’t seem alarming. She noticed a rash on her shins and later developed severe leg pain during games and practices. She and her family initially thought the pain was a result of intense training.

Then things changed quickly.

After several days of fever and fatigue, Brinn’s parents took her for additional testing. Blood work showed something was seriously wrong, and she was immediately transported by ambulance to Texas Children’s.

Doctors later explained that her white blood cell counts were so elevated that she was at risk for stroke and other life-threatening complications.

Despite how sick she was, Brinn was still attending school and playing competitive soccer. Her medical team was shocked she could even walk.

“They kept saying there’s no way she should have been able to do what she was doing,” her dad, Brian, said.

Finding strength at Texas Children’s

During her six months at Texas Children’s, Brinn received five rounds of chemotherapy. Because AML treatment weakens the immune system, she remained hospitalized for most of her care and faced serious infections along the way. But her family says the team at Texas Children’s gave them confidence from the beginning.

“The doctors and nurses became more than just a team to us,” Brian said. “They became family.”

Brinn agrees.

“They’re all so kind and genuine,” said Brinn. “They’re not just doctors. They become your friends, too.”

Her care included specialists across oncology, cardiology, infectious disease and nutrition, all working together to help her recover and safely return to the activities she loved most.

As a teen athlete, getting back to soccer became one of Brinn’s biggest motivations throughout treatment. One teammate even gave her a silent soccer ball she could use inside her hospital room.

“I would pass it against the wall in my room and juggle with it,” said Brinn.

Back where she belongs

After months in the hospital, Brinn said going home felt “great and normal.” She was especially excited to sleep in her own bed, eat home-cooked meals and begin training again.

Within weeks, she returned to conditioning and soccer drills. Soon after, she was cleared for contact play. Now, everyday moments feel different.

“It’s genuinely such a blessing to be able to go to school, hang out with your friends and go to soccer,” said Brinn.

Her experience also inspired her future goals. She now hopes to work in health care one day, possibly in sports medicine, nursing or physical therapy.

When asked what she would tell another child facing a cancer diagnosis, Brinn kept her answer simple.

“I know it’s going to be scary,” she said. “But Texas Children’s is the best place possible that you can be. The nurses and doctors are going to take care of you.”