. >> reporter: brennan was diagnosed with aml, a severe form of leukemia that's difficult to cure. >> we had doctors to tell to us quit. we had nurse practitioners, experts saying let him go home and do the hospice thing. he won't have all the awful chemicals in his body but to him there's a quality of life in fighting. >> reporter: st. jude's children's research hospital was recommended. doctors tailored treatment to brennan and performed a second bone marrow transplant but after a year his cancer came back and a third transplant followed, again, the cancer returned. >> how scared were you when it was at the worst? >> very, very scared. i didn't know if tomorrow was going to be my last day or not. every time i closed my eyes, it felt like i was going to die while asleep. >> reporter: really? >> yes, that scary. >> reporter: young brennan and his family had a choice to make. >> the doctor came to you and asked if you you wanted to get the fourth bone marrow transplant. >> and i said, yes, i want to get this over with, to get the cancer out. >> reporter: you didn't have to say yes.