BENTONVILLE, Ark. — 4-year-old Nathan Acosta was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October.

Nathan’s parents, Fernando and Danielle Acosta, say they first took him to the hospital after noticing unexplained bruising and bug bites that wouldn’t go away.

Doctors confirmed the leukemia diagnosis on Oct. 16. He was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where he spent eight days undergoing initial treatment.

Nathan is now receiving chemotherapy five days a week at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale. Fernando says the diagnosis came as a complete shock.

"It feels like a bad dream," Fernando said. "That your child has cancer, especially at four years old. That's something no parent ever wants to hear."

The Acosta family has lived in Northwest Arkansas fo

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