Kentucky
‘This doesn’t define him’: KY toddler completes fourth phase of aggressive chemotherapy
(LEX18) — A toddler from eastern Kentucky has completed his fourth round of chemotherapy, marking a significant milestone in his battle against an aggressive form of leukemia.
It’s a story LEX18 first brought to you back in May.
Three-year-old Axel Combs was first diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April while on vacation in Florida. Nine months later, he has completed four rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and recently finished his frontline treatment.
Over the past several months, Axel has undergone surgeries, blood transfusions, and many aggressive treatments to reach this point.
“I feel two totally different ways all at the same time. Like part of me is so sad, but then part of me is so grateful and appreciative at the same time,” said Sasha Combs, Axel’s mother.
The family now waits for Axel’s Absolute Neutrophil Count to reach 750, so he can move forward with a less aggressive chemotherapy treatment for the next two years.
Combs says doctors are hopeful Axel will reach that number by Tuesday once his labs are rechecked.
Axel has even started acting like himself again, which has given his family hope.
“Up until probably like July or August, those personality changes were still there,” Combs said. “When we started seeing him act more like himself, that kind of gave us a glimpse of hope.”
Despite his treatment, Axel has been able to enjoy special moments, including serving as an honorary captain with the Cincinnati Reds and seeing the lights at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Combs says Axel had to undergo chemotherapy on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, but was able to wake up together Christmas morning.
“We were able to spend Christmas here at the temporary home together. It was the four of us,” Combs said.
Beyond Axel’s health challenges, the family faces significant financial burdens. From April to December, their insurance was billed $2.4 million for his cancer treatments. Some chemotherapy treatments cost $50,000 for a single dose.
Combs says the family’s faith has only grown, along with a newfound perspective, as they navigate this journey.
She thanks the community for its overwhelming support and outreach, especially on her Facebook page, Angels for Axel, where she shares every step of his journey.
“You can still find happiness and beauty among really horrible, horrible, horrible situations,” Combs said. “There’s hope for the future. That this doesn’t define us or this doesn’t ruin his life. Our life. Like that, there is still beauty that can be in this, after this.”
Those who want to follow Axel’s journey can visit the Facebook page “Angels for Axel.”
If you’d like to help the family through donations, you can donate to the following payment systems:
PayPal: Sasha Combs
Venmo: @SashaAlexisCombs
Cashapp: $SashaAlexisCombs
Combs hopes to one day turn Angels for Axel into a nonprofit has she wants to help advocate for both children with cancer and their families.
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
KENTUCKY DAD RAGES AFTER COURT-APPROVED RELEASE OF REPEAT OFFENDER LEADS TO FAMILY’S KIDNAPPING
Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE
Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Milwaukee, WI23 seconds agoMilwaukee Brewers Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski Has Historic Night Against Yankees – World Baseball Network
-
Atlanta, GA6 minutes agoA look back at the Atlanta Hawks Draft Lottery Results: Some Luck and a Few Misses
-
Minneapolis, MN12 minutes agoINTERVIEW: Doors Open Minneapolis
-
Indianapolis, IN18 minutes agoIndianapolis Race Results: May 9, 2026 (INDYCAR) – Racing News
-
Pittsburg, PA24 minutes agoHornets Fall in MIAA Tournament Title Match to #5 Pittsburg State
-
Augusta, GA30 minutes agoHistoric Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident
-
Washington, D.C36 minutes agoCandidates for mayor and D.C. congressional delegate outline vision for District’s future
-
Cleveland, OH42 minutes agoUSS Cleveland arrives in namesake city for commissioning