Chase's Story

Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon and agressive cancer that affects about 70 children each year. This is Chase's story. He was diagnosed July 8th, 2005 with cancer at the age of 15 in the right sinus cavity. This is his story of what he has endured this past year.

Below is the story of Chase's disease:

"Well this story of mine began on June 17th. I had just gotten back from Bible camp where we had spent a week on the riverboat. There was a mosquito like bite just underneath my eye that my parents noticed and asked me about. I told them that it didn't hurt and it was just some kind of bug bite.
That Monday, I called my mom at work to ask if I could go and see the doctor because my nose was all stuffed up and the "bite" was starting to hurt. So I went down to see Dr. Hasselhof and he looked up my nose and pushed on my sinuses. They hurt and my sinuses were plugged so he started to treat me for a sinus infection. 1000 mg of Amoxicillian 2x a day. Talk about horse pills!!! Yikes.
I had just started my new job at Trelay roging. That's where you cut down the taller corn stalks. I would go to work, come home and just sleep till the next morning. My parents started to get worried about a week after I started my job because I was slept so much.
Anyway, my eye started to swell up so another doctors appointment was scheduled for that Friday, July 1. When I got in to see Doc H. he noticed that my eye had displaced so he me to Boscobel to have a CT scan done as the scanner and radiologist were there that day.
My mom got the call in the afternoon at work to come down to the doctors office to find out about my scan results. Doc gave her the bad news that I had a tumor growing and there were 4 different possibilities as to what it could be. At this point in time he did not think it could be cancerous but he couldn't be sure without further testing.
We were to leave up North to visit my Grandparents but we had to nix that so my mom called my buddy Davis to go to the Drive In. She thought I might need a friend to talk to. We saw Batman The Beginning! Great movie and we had fun.
It was a very long weekend! Finally Tuesday arrived and we went to Madison to the UW for a MRI and another CT scan. My neighbor Nub went with us, plus Grandma Minnie, Uncle Jason & Aunt Heather showed up for support. That was really neat. Because I was wearing braces the tests came back inconclusive so they set up a biopsy for that Friday.
By Thursday, my tumor had grown quite a bit and my mom went in to talk to Dr. Hasselhof about her concerns on the change in my face. It was now all swollen, my right eye was almost closed and my face drooped. You thought that I had had a stroke. On Friday when we went to see the specialist she expressed her concerns with that doctor as well. He must have had his concerns to because he told my parents on Tuesday that he was not going to do a frozen section biopsy because those are unreliable. Well he did do a frozen section biopsy, twice. To confirm what he was looking at.
He called my parents back and confirmed their worst fears. The tumor was cancerous and was very fast growing. I needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately for further testing.
My dad gave me the news. We were all crying and very scared. I was moved up to the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology ward. Before long the waiting room was full of friends and family giving us their support. I don't know how my we would have fared if we didn't have the support that we did.
I got some really cool handheld games and stuffed animals, magazines, and lots and lots of candy!!
The next morning, my braces were yanked off, literally by a doctor that was upset at being made late for his trip to Chicago. I don't recommend this doctor to anyone. He was not nice. This got the ball rolling and over the course of the next few days I had more MRI's, CT scans, PET and Bone scans, x-rays, bloodwork, eye exams...you name it. It was done. "

Talking with Your Child about Cancer

Perhaps the hardest news you will ever have had to face is to learn your child has cancer. The first difficult step you will have to take is telling your child the news. As a parent, you will have to think about how to face this reality and inform your child of his or her disease.

There is never going to be an easy way to tell your child he/she has cancer. Many questions run through your head such as: what should I tell my child, who is the best person to say it, how should I say it, when should I inform my child of the situation? Although facing this reality will be difficult, it may help to learn how other parents have dealt with similar situations and what their recommendations are.

The following article will guide you on how to comfront this difficult truth and how to approach your child regarding the disease he/she faces. You will see the recommendations from the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health. These guidelines will give you a better sense on what is appropiate based on your child's age and experience of people who have suffered through this situation.

Please click here to learn more information on the guidelines on how to talk to your child about cancer.

Fuller Goldsmith - Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

This is the story of Fuller, who was diagnosed with ALL a year and half ago.




Monday, April 30, 2007 started as any other day. I knew Fuller had not been feeling well or acting like himself, but I had valid reasons behind all of his behavior. However, Leukemia had crossed my mind several times in the last few weeks, and I of course had looked up the symptoms on the internet, so I knew what I knew but didn't want to know it.
He had been diagnosed with strep and I was supposed to wait one more day to do a recheck, but I knew I had to get him to the doctor that day.

When Fuller's pediatrician, Dr. Phil Phillips, came in with his suspected diagnosis, I was in shock, although not completely. It was if I had this horrible nightmare that really came true - no waking up out of this one. But at the same time Phil said those words to me I never wanted to hear ("WBC high..leukemia...go to Children's) a sense of peace and calm came over me like never before. I knew from that moment that Fuller would be healed of this disease.
Now I always knew that we saw the BEST pediatrician in town, but I am overwhelmed with the love and care Phil and his office have given my child throughout this ordeal. I am and forever will be grateful for their devotion to Fuller and our family.

We are now in the hands of the best Hematology Ongology group that has every means to make Fuller as comfortable as possible during this horrible time. I am so thankful for the knowledge and the love that comes from Children's Hospital! If you believe me when I say that my mother's instinct told me Fuller was sick, believe me also when I say that I know God has a purpose for this fight we are fighting - to show me, to show you, and more people than we can imagine the power of prayer.

Pray for Fuller and watch your faith grow as he answers those prayers!

Abby Fasnacht - Leukemia

For this week, we are going to share the stories of Abby and Memphis.

Abby is young girl who was diagnosed with Leukemia, altough afflicted with this terrible disease she has been able to make incredible progress.



On March 19th, 2003 our daughter Abby was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). She had suffered two bouts of pneumonia in about five weeks, and was also showing periodic signs of limping. After the second round of antibiotics for pneumonia, we felt that she was just not bouncing back like we thought she should, and seemed very listless and unenergetic.

We took her to her pediatrician, who told us she had an enlarged spleen and sent us to Children's Medical Center in Dayton for blood work on the 18th. After the blood work was done, he talked to us over the phone there in the laboratory lobby at Children's, and gave us news that we were just not expecting - Abby showed signs in her blood of some sort of cancer.

An oncologist came down to the laboratory area and talked to us further. He said that he believed it was probably ALL, but we would need to come back the next morning for more tests, and to be admitted if it was ALL to begin the work needed to treat her with chemotherapy.

We came back on the morning of the 19th, and Abby went through a bone marrow aspiration. The lab work on her bone marrow sample confirmed that it is ALL, and that she has subtype "precursor-B". If you hit the link under "links" to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, you'll find a very helpful article on leukemia in general, and the different subtypes. If there can be good news about this, it is that this is the most common type of childhood leukemia, with the best prognosis. 99% of kids achieve remission after the first month of treatment (called the Induction Phase), and 85% are cured.

After the diagnosis, Abby was admitted to Children's. She had a "port" put in under the skin in her chest (kind of a permanent IV catheter), and also had a lumbar puncture during the same surgery on the 20th. This LP showed that she had no leukemic cells in her spinal fluid, thank God.
That evening of the 20th, she also received her first IV chemo treatment through her new port. We were allowed to come home on the 24th, one day before her 2nd birthday.


You can read an update on Abby's Story here: http://www.mistweavers.org/

Memphis Teal - Wilms tumor stage IV

Todays second story is about Memphis Teal, who was diagnosed with Wilms tumor stage 4 at a very early age.

Memphis is a stage IV wilms tumor patient, with a 2nd reoccurence to his lung.

When Memphis was a little over a year old he started having some constipation problems, that laxitives, stool softners,prune juice and a no diary diet could help. He was in pain all of the time and vomiting. He was always at the doctors. Memphis had stomach distetion and still we were told he had a lazy bowel even by a peds GI.

So on his 2 year physical they found a mass in his stomach an scheduled us for an ultrasound. in august of 2006 memphis was diagnosed with wilms tumor. he was only 2, He had the right kidney and adrenal gland removed and underwent 4 months of chemo. eleven months after discovering the first tumor, he went in for a routine check and had an x-ray in which they found two tumors on his lungs.

He underwent radiation and had another check and it appeared as if the tumors had shrunk.
He is still facing more chemo, more scans blood transfusions and stays in the hospital until about the end of january.

Hopefully with the help of god and all of your prayers this will be the end and Memphis will get on with his life, like a normal 3 yr old. I will not let my guard down this time, I will also leave the port in as well. He will be in surgery to have his hernia repaired soon.
He will be seeing an ENT to find out if he did not develop a right sinus or if there is a cyst in there. He will also be starting his occupational therapy to try and lesson some of his tremors, which make some tasks very difficult to do with his hands.

After a short 3 days in the hospital we have solved some mysteries for Memphis, he has been diagnosed with reactive airway disease and is now on a nebulizer for daily breathing treatments also he is getting tested for some allergies causing his breathing problems and upper resp problems.

In three weeks he will be getting an MRI and an EEG to find out about his tremors and seizure like body shakes so cross your fingers and pray that the doctors find nothing.

Dr.Kotlow on Fuller rd fixed Memphs mouth on the 17th. He had one tooth pulled 3 crowns 4 fillings his tounge was snipped (class 3 tounge tied) and the gum in between the 2 front teeth was removed with a laser. He has no tooth pain anymore and is much happier, also the tooth fairy came and brought him a thomas train. He was very excited.

Thank you to Dr. Kotlow and his staff for waiving the fee for us.

Child Cancer Nutritional Needs

Nutrition is important for everyone. However, it becomes a matter of special concern when it comes to children who suffer from cancer. It is necessary that children undergoing treatment, or who have just finished treatment, must have a balanced and nutritional diet. Additionally, it is important to consider what foods they are able to ingest and how the preparation of these foods affect the chid's health.


St. Jude Children's Hospital has started a program that teaches children how to prepare their meals. Moreover, in this program children who have undergone treatment teach children who are new to this situation how prepare food that fits their current needs.

"Proper nutrition is important for all children, but especially for those undergoing treatment at St. Jude. During treatment, children’s immune systems may be compromised. When their white blood counts are low, they are especially vulnerable to infection. During that time, the bacteria in many foods can be hazardous." (St. Jude Hospital)

“When their counts are low, we have to make sure they stay away from rice, tea, strawberries, soft-serve ice cream from bulk machines, and other foods that do not harm you and me, but that could be very serious for the patients,” says Registered Dietitian Kathryn Alexander.

This program helps children feel helpful, happy, and supported. The children who have undergone treatment and are better, provide comfort to those who are facing this tough reality. They inspire each other, learn and create lasting friendships through the process.

The following story is about how St. Jude's program helped Alaina Coleman, an 11-year old Leukemia patient who has undergone her second bone marrow transplant, find joy and recovery in learning how to prepare meals with St. Jude.

Please click here to learn more on this story, which is certain to touch your heart.

Jackson Memorial Hospital

Jackson Memorial is a Level One care facility which provides health services for adults and children. The pediatric division of this hospital is focused on providing the best care for its patioents. This division is considered a separate hospital and it is denominated Holtz Children Hospital.

Holtz Children Hospital is part of Jackson Memorial and it helps provide the care needed for all of its child patients. Click here to find out more about the pediatrics at Jackson Memorial.

There are many childrena at this hospital waiting for someone like you to help bring them a little ray of light. You don't need to make a donation if you don't have the possibilities, you can offer your time as well. Jackson Memorial is in a constant search for volunteers. If you would like to offer your time, energy and joy click volunteering and learn about other ways to give!

Today we are going to talk about Carson Higgings, he is a brave young lad that has been suffering from neuroblastoma for over a year, this is his story:

Carson Higgins
4 years old

Diagnosis:

Carson was found to suffer from neuroblastoma, a common solid tumor of childhood.

Carson's Story:

When 3-year-old Carson was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the news came as a shock to his parents. “I was devastated,” said his mother, Debbie. “I just started praying and praying.” For several weeks, Carson, who was usually a healthy child, ran high fevers and developed a limp when he walked. One day, Carson asked his mother to kiss his legs because they hurt. Over the next week, Carson was seen by several doctors, including a bone specialist, an oncologist and a rheumatologist. When a bone scan showed spots, the oncologist ordered an MRI. The diagnosis of neuroblastoma was made soon after. “During that whole week, we kept getting sent to more doctors,” Debbie said. “I kept getting the feeling it was something more. I was prepared for something, but not cancer.” While Carson’s family struggled with his diagnosis, his scans were sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where a new protocol was about to begin for children with neuroblastoma. “I’d heard of St. Jude. We had donated in the past,” Debbie said, “but I never thought we’d be there.” By the time the family arrived at St. Jude, Carson was no longer able to walk.

At St. Jude:

At St. Jude, Carson received chemotherapy and radiation, surgery to remove the tumor and a stem cell transplant. Carson also received physical, occupational and speech therapies. His physical therapy sessions helped him regain strength and, to his family’s delight, Carson soon started walking again. Debbie is thankful for the donors who help support St. Jude. “The people who donate to St. Jude are just amazing,” she said, noting that their family appreciated the housing, transportation and grocery cards that are provided to patients and families. While being separated from his brothers, who range in age from 3-years-old to 16-years-old, was difficult, Carson is home now and thriving. He’s now in preschool, and loves to play with his brothers. “Carson has always been a special child,” Debbie said. “It was amazing to watch the peace he had while going through this.” Carson continues his chemotherapy at home and returns to St. Jude for regular checkups.

On a different note, we would like to thank those who attended Friday's Cancer Walk! We appreciate your efforts, thanks to your support nearly $200,000.00 were collected to help cancer sufferers.

Juan and Lucia attended the cancer walk and were excited to learn that their efforts helps families in need.

Lucia and Juan at last Friday's cancer walk:

This walk was done in honor of Sebastian Sarmiento. Again we request of you not money, but any form of help you can provide for the cancer afflicted and their families.

Thank you!!!