Courageous Kids
You are forever in our hearts and prayers.
LIST UPDATED:
There are 151 Courageous Kids listed alphabetically by their first name.
For details of the types of cancer listed here, please visit: Types of Childhood Cancer. The legend (located at the bottom of the page) explains most of the abbreviations used here. Our GLOSSARY will provide more information about the terms used here.
If you would like your child added, please email your child's info (name, age, dx, web link, photo, and a quote or brief story) to katieswish@verizon.net and put "Courageous Kids" in the subject line. If you are an adult survivor of childhood cancer, we encourage you to share your inspiring stories!!!
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| Abby, dx with ALL 3/03, OT 5/15/05 |
| Abby, dx with ALL on 8/2/02, OT 10/1/04, SURVIVOR! |
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Abe (age 4), dx 11/13/03 with ALL, in treatment. Abe lives in Minnesota. |
| Alex, dx with pre-B ALL 08/03 |
| Alex (age 10) dx 8/22/01, High Risk t-cell ALL, ccg-1961-ser, CNS relapse 8/30/02, BM relapse 10/1/02, UCB Transplant 11/12/02, Chronic Graft vs Host Disease |
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Alexandria (age 4), dx 5/17/04 with pre-B ALL, OT 7/06. Alexandria lives in Pennsylvania. Alexandria is featured in Katie's Cooking! |
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Alexis (age 5), dx with pre-B ALL, OT 12/26/05. Alexis lives in Minnesota. |
| Ali (age 18), dx 8/26/02 with ALL, OT 3/28/05 ! Ali lives in California.
"LIVESTRONG*LOVE STRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LIVE LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW" |
| Allen, dx with stage 1 Hodgkin's Disease, SURVIVOR! 16 years. Allen lives in California. |
| Amanda, dx high risk ALL with CNS involvement on 5/10/02, iron overload 3/04, OT 9/26/04, SURVIVOR! Amanda lives in Pennsylvania. |
| Andrew, dx with high risk, T-cell ALL 8/6/03. Andrew lives in California. |
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Andrew (age 12), dx with pre-b ALL on 9/11/98, OT 10/00. Andrew is featured in Katie's Cooking! "You just can never give up, and I never do." Kids Cancer Stamp Project www.kidscancerstamp.org |
| Anika, dx with pre-b ALL on 6/17/02, OT 10/8/04, SURVIVOR! |
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Anna (age 7 1/2), dx with pre-B ALL on 6/19/00, OT 6/20/02. Anna lives in Italy. |
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Anna (age 15 1/2), dx with Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia at the age of 11 months, and with myelodysplasia syndrome at the age of 15. Anna was in desparate need of a blood transfusion and platelet transfusion. We were trying to start a new line after her other one blew, and she said: "I told you, don't mess with my petechia! They won't work for a line!" - (age 10 1/2) |
| Annette (sister of Joe) age 29, dx with Leukemia, ANGEL 10/1/97 |
| Arielle (forever 9 years old), dx with early pre-B ALL on 4/9/97 at age 5, relapsed 7/17/00, BMT 3/7/01, relapsed 6/8/01, ANGEL 7/11/01. Arielle was from California. |
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Ashley (sister to Ryan, also dx with ALL) dx with standard risk pre-B ALL on 4/11/2000 at the age of 3 1/2, OT 6/9/02, relapsed 10/28/03 at the age of 7, should be OT on 1/15/06. Ashley lives in Wisconsin. |
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Ashley (age 11), dx with very high-risk ALL Philadelphia Chromosome 2 months before her 11th bday on 3/8/05; BMT on 7/7/05. God answers my prayers ~BM donated by my one and only brother, my hero Jose (age 6). Ashely is featured in Katie's Cooking! “I want to grow up to be a baker. While at Fountain Valley & CHLA hospitals I watched Food Network all day long and Rachel Ray became my favorite.” www.Carepages.com and visit "Pray4AshleyB". |
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Ashton (age 8), dx at age 2 years 10 months with ALL, OT 3/03. Ashton lives in Louisiana. "It was hard to go through treatment and getting needles stuck in my chest , but the nurses made it much better by tickling me!" |
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Ayannah, dx 5/02 with stage IV Wilm's Tumor in her right kidney and small tumors on her lungs; tumors on her lungs were removed and had 6 months of chemo; relapsed 2/04 in her left kidney, kidney removed 6/04; completed 1 1/2 years of chemo and 12 radiation treatments; has dialysis 3 days a week. OT 8/05. " Hold on to God because He won't let you go". |
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Bradley (age 9), dx with high risk T-cell ALL on 8/19/05 "Courage, spirit and love will bring us to full recovery." |
| Brandon, dx with ALL on 9/16/02 |
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Brandon (age 8) dx 8/28/98 at 20 months with ALL, OT 11/01 |
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Braydon Lee (age 3), dx with T-cell ALL and Psuedotumor Cerebri on 12/6/02. Brandon Lee lives in Texas. |
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Brianna (age 13), dx on New Years Eve 1998, at age 6, with ALL. Brianna lives in New York. |
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Brendon (age 4), dx 7/1/04 with pre-B ALL, in treatment until 8/07. Brendon lives in Texas. |
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Brock (age 2)- Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor inside the heart. It is a very rare tumor with only a few known cases. Treatment and prognosis are unknown. Brock had open heart surgery at 5 months and 7 months to remove the rapidly growing tumor. He received 1 year of chemotherapy and has not shown and signs of regrowth. Brock lives in Alabama. |
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Bryce (age 3 1/2 ), dx with ALL on 3/11/04, currently in LTM until 6/2007. |
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| Caitlin, dx with pre-B ALL 11/01, OT 2/6/04, SURVIVOR! Caitlin lives in Ohio. |
| Carly (age 4) dx 7/2002 mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, OT 2/2003. Carley lives in Massachusetts. |
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Carter, dx with T-cell ALL on 5/1602, OT 6/14/05 |
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Chas (age 7 1/2), dx 8/23/99 at 19 months old with pre-B ALL, CCG1952, OT 10/02 |
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Cherry (age 5 1/2) dx at age at 1 1/2 with ALL "Micky, did you know that God made the sun?" "No Cherry, God can't reach." “Yes he can Micky. God has wings." "Oh." |
| Christian Losurdo (age 6) DX: 12/21/05 with Wilms Tumor Stage III - OT 6/15/06 - Childhood Cancer SURVIVOR!! Currently N.E.D.= Cancer-FREE (No Evidence of Disease). Christian lives in Illinois and is starting 1st grade. |
| Christina, dx ALL. Christina lives in Greece. |
| Christine, dx 12/01 pre-B ALL, OT 04/04. Christine lives in Ohio. |
| Christopher (age 18), dx Ewing's sarcoma/pPNET/Askin's tumor of the rib 02/01/2005. One year, three surgeries, and 14 chemotherapy rounds later, he has clear scans and NED!
As true Texans, one of our family's favorite meals is BBQ ribs; however, after two of Chris' ribs were removed during his tumor resection/chest reconstruction surgery last May, he e-mailed his aunt: "Dear Aunt Laura, I think it will be a very long time before I will ever want to eat ribs again... Love, Chris" |
| Clare (age 7), relapsed pre-B ALL in the CNS/marrow on May 13, 2005, sibling match transplant on July 18, 2005, died cancer-free on September 29, 2005 from acute respiratory distress syndrome probably due to pre-transplant conditioning. Clare was from Maryland. |
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Cody (age 9), dx with T-cell ALL on 10/3/04. Cody is featured in Katie's Cooking! "Everyone's life is like a page or a piece of paper. It starts out blank and then it gets written on or sometimes has wrinkles or tears in it until it's full or finished. Mine's going to have a couple of small tears in it but the writing goes on a long time after that." |
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Colin (age 9), dx with ALL in 1997 at 19 months old; OT in 2000; relapsed ALL in 2002 at 6 years old, went through 2 more years of chemo, OT 10/04. Colin lives in Wisconsin. |
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Collin (age 9), dx with Pre-B ALL TEL-AML1+ on 1/17/01, OT 8/23/03, relapsed 9 months later in BM and CNS on 5/25/04, in remission. Colin lives in Florida. About Collin, from his mom, Shanon: "It's a long, hard road, but there is always a bright shining light within him." |
| Coley, dx AML resulting from Fanconi Anemia 12/03, ANGEL 10/22/04. Coley was from Massachusetts. |
| Cori K., ALL Survivor, post-BMT +16 years
I am also an ALL survivor, diagnosed just shy of my fourth birthday in 1988. Back then (the Dark Ages, as I call it), they weren't looking at the immunotypes or anything like that. So all we got from the docs at CHOC was the ALL diagnosis. And we worked from there, against a 50% survival rate and with the limited information we had at the time and some of the most dedicated oncologists in California. I got a Make-A-Wish trip to Orlando, and your photos of the Village really bring back memories for me.
They discovered I relapsed in 1991 after I fell jogging at a karate event. Two compression fractures in my back later, I was back in treatment. Chemo, TBI, and a bone marrow transplant March 30, 1992 from my then 5 year old brother. So there's my story, very briefly. I had (and have) my share of after effects, but here I am, over sixteen years later, in fairly good shape. I got my black belt in 2006, I double-majored in college and graduated top of my class, and I'm in grad school now. I'm also part of my university's Colleges Against Cancer program, working as the survivorship chair and getting the word out about survivors on campus.
I've got to say that there's a great future ahead for a kid who can survive that sort of thing and do so much good for so many others. There's no stopping a survivor when she puts her mind to something! |
| Courtney was dx Neuroblastoma Stage IV in March 1990 aged 18 months.
She is now a very petite 17 1/2 year old, studying Graphic Design. Court lives in Queensland, Australia. |
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Courtney was dx with pre-b cell ALL 10/03, currently on LTM, OT 4/7/06. Courtney lives in Alabama. "Stay strong, you can never give up, I refuse to let cancer control my life. I will win this battle!!! God has special plans for us." |
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| Dani, dx high risk ALL 10/2/01, cranial radiation 12/ 01, OT 4/04, SURVIVOR! Dani lives in Iowa. |
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Danielle (age 3), dx with ALL on 11/1/04, in treatment. Danielle lives in Ohio. |
| Dave - dx with ALL in 1953, SURVIVOR!! Dave lives in Pennsylvania.
"I used to put plastic snakes and lizards in the bed with me to surprise the Doctors and Nurses so we both could have a laugh. I have traveled around the world twice and been able to do many things that no one else have even thought of doing. I have flown gliders, explored caves, gone skiing and even visited the Taj Mahal in India. I have worked as an advocate for persons with disabilities for almost 30 years." |
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Dayton (age 11) dx with Hodgins Lymphoma at age 6, in remission for 3 years Dayton's motto: "It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts!" |
| Delaney (age 10) dx at age 6 in June of 2002, Ewings Sarcoma/pPNET of the skull facial bones, cribriform plate, and frontal sinuses. Treated with 5000 cGy of radiation to the front quadrant of her skull (from top of head to nose and from ear to ear). Chemo agents were given every three weeks with two rotating treatments of: 1. Vincristine, Cytoxan, Doxyrubicin (three day hospital stays); 2. VP-16, Etoposide & Mesna to clear the body of toxicity after treatment (five day hospital stays). Delaney lives in Ohio.
Favorite quotes: "I'd rather be bald then dead!" and "Not bad manners, good chemo" (re her terrible indigestion issues post chemo - usually uttered after a grand belch!). Family motto: "One day at a time, with lots of prayers!" |
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Duncan (age 7), dx 8/01 with pre-B ALL at age 2 1/2, OT 3/04 "Duncan is an Honored Hero for Team in Training (TNT) and Duncan's Dashers at our Light the Night Walk. He crossed the finish line with me at my first TNT marathon, shortly after he ended treatment. It was a wonderful celebration for both of us." |
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Dylan (age 12), dx with T-cell ALL on 3/4/04, relapsed 8/13/04, ANGEL 9/9/04. Dylan was from Maryland.
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Elizabeth (age 6), dx 11/30/01 with pre-B ALL, OT |
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| Gabreil was dx with Stage IV Wilm's Tumor on April 1, 2004, with mets to both lungs and IVC. He has been off treatment since September 22, 2004!!! He lives in San Diego, CA. |
| Gabriel, dx 7/16/05, ALL T-Cell High-Risk, AALL00P2. Gabriel lives in Virginia. |
| Gabrielle (age 19), dx ALL with CNS involvement in 1987, OT 1989, SURVIVOR! 14 years. Gabrielle lives in Pennsylvania. |
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Giovanna (age 5), dx with ALL on 2/14/04, OT 4/06. Giovanna lives in New Jersey. Giovanna was told she could not go to Chuck E Cheese until her port is removed because there are too many germs and too many people. She turned to her dad and asked, “When did you get your port out, Dad?” She assumed everyone has a port and once it's removed, your allowed to go to Chuck E Cheese! |
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Grace (age 2), dx 8/15/05 pre-B ALL at 23 months old. Grace lives in Wisconsin. |
| Grace is a Wilms tumor survivor. She finished treatment April 2006. |
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Graydon (age 13), dx with pre-B ALL on 12/17/01 at age 8, OT 6/04. Graydon lives in Canada. |
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Gunner (age 4), dx with high risk b-cell ALL on 05-27-05, started LTM 1/30/06. Gunner lives in Kansas. "I have leukemia. That is okay, you don't have to feel sorry for me." |
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| Hanna Brooke was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor called Medulloblastoma in February 2006. Her treatment included surgery to remove the tumor, cranial radiation, and chemotherapy. |
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Heather, dx 10-12-04 with ALL. Heather lives in Arizona. "Everything happens for a reason." |
| Houston, dx with ALL, OT 6/03, SURVIVOR! |
| Hunter, dx 12/20/03 pre-B ALL, OT. Hunter lives in Massachusetts. |
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| Ian, dx 10/14/04 with low risk ALL, in treatment |
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Isabel (age 6), dx 8/01 at age 2 with ALL; relapsed in her right eye 10 months into treatment; 6/04 just 1 week OT another eye relapse; 5/05, 7/05, and 9/05 BM relapses; passed away 11/20/05. Isabel was from New Jersey. From her family: "Isabel was an incredibly strong little girl who loved people and lived life as best as she could. She was so loved by her family that words cannot describe. We will miss her always." www.caringbridge.org and visit "isabelturse" |
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Isabella (age 4) dx with pre-B ALL on 10/25/04, currently in LTM. Isabella lives in NY. "There is no greater joy than a childs smile." |
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Isaiah (5th grader), dx with very high risk ALL with the complication of the Philadelphia Chromosome on 10/3/00; relapsed in CNS 7/22/02; unrelated cord blood SCT 11/26/02. As of 11/05, 3 years post transplant and doing very well. Isaiah lives in Michigan. "Isaiah --how are you able to take ALL those pills so fast? That was less than 30 seconds for 10 pills!!" He replies, "Oh, it's easy. I just pretend I'm a vacuum cleaner!" |
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Jazmyn (age 6) dx with Wilm's Tumor in 10/00, had the right kidney removed and began chemo; elapsed in 11/01 with a small tumor to right lung, treated with chemo and radiation therapy; OT since 10/02 for 3 years; 11/9/05 during our 4 month follow-up, a small area found in her left lung, removed and no cancer cells found. "Our foundation is based upon prayer and knowing that God carries us every step." |
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Jack (age 12), dx 2/99 with leukemia six weeks before his sixth birthday, OT 4/02. He is a keen swimmer, PS2 expert, avid reader and would-be novelist. Jack lives in England. |
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Jackson (age 6) dx with pre B ALL on 11/22/04, CCG1991, currently in LTM until 2/08. Jackson lives in California. "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'. . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do." --Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Jaclyn, dx with AML 10/10/02. Jaclyn lives in New Jersey. |
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Jakob UT, dx with ALL on 1/22/01, OT 3/24/04, survivor 20 months and going strong, minus all the yucky late effects. Jakob lives in Missouri. After Jakob was offered some German chocolate cake, with a very serious and scared look on his face, he said, “But mom it has GERMS in it! Please leave them out so I can have some.” |
| Jennifer is 7 years old. She was dx on 7/27/05 with T-cell ALL and is following protocal POG 9404. Jennifer lives in Switzerland. |
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Jessica (age 5), dx with pre-B ALL on 12/04/02, CCG1991, OT 2/4/05, 1-year SURVIVOR! Jessica lives in Pennsylvania. Jessica is featured in Katie's Cooking! |
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Jessica (age 14), Liver cancer and a liver transplant in 2001. Jessica is featured in Katie's Cooking! "Live life to the fullest and take time to smile!" |
| Joanna Rae - Forever 6 years old
On Christmas Eve 2002, at the age of 3 1/2, Joanna was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. For two years she was treated in St. Petersburg, FL and New York City, bravely enduring high dose chemo, the maximum radiation therapy, and numerous surgeries without complaint. In July 2005, our worst nightmare was confirmed by emergency surgery. Joanna had relapsed and the cancer was widespread throughout the abdomen. We took our precious daughter back home and lived each day to the fullest, packing in as much fun and love as possible. One afternoon while chasing butterflies in our backyard with big brother Paul, Joanna said, "I love living!" Later, while 'flying' through the night on a golf cart 'hunting' fireflies and frogs she cackled, "I can't believe I'm so sick and I'm having SO MUCH FUN!" She was wise beyond her years. She loved everyone and everything in God's world and so loved being here with her family and friends. Our sweet Joanna left this Earth on December 22, 2005. She had assured us much earlier that if she got too tired and too sick to have fun and feel good here, she would go to Heaven and play with her 'Gandaddy' and have fun until we joined her. Though our hearts are broken missing her, we have so much to be thankful for -- so many, many wonderful memories to cherish. What a wonderful child our family was blessed with for six years! |
| Joe (brother of Annette), dx with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma winter 2003, in remission. |
| John, dx with ALL on 5/8/02. John lives in Pennsylvania. |
| John, age 30, Hodgkin's Disease, ANGEL 1965. John was from Pennsylvania. |
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Jonathan (age 18) dx with high risk pre-B ALL on 8/31/04, CCG 1961, in treatment. Jonathan lives in Michigan. “Courage it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear and injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow." |
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Josh (age 10), dx with ALL on 11/10/03, LTM in 7/04, still in treatment. Josh lives in North Dakota. |
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Joshua (age 3) dx 6/1/05 with ALL Josh to his mom after getting 'poked' giving blood, "You good boy momma, good boy!" |
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Joshua (age 10), dx 3/4/98 at age 2 with Ependymoblastoma, treated with 2 craniotomies, 5 doses of high dose chemo, a SCT and 36 rounds of radiation to the brain. Cancer free since 12/98. Joshua lives in New York. From Joshua's mom, Renee: Joshua doesn't remember anything about his life and death battle with is brain tumor. I, on the other hand can't forget. Yet, I still stand firmly behind the belief that, "Everything happens for a reason, I may not understand or even like the reason, but none-the-less, there is a reason." This has helped me get through many tough times. |
| Julia (age 3) dx with T-cell ALL on 10/24/04, in treatment POG#9404. Julia lives in North Carolina. |
| Julia Becht (age 4), dx with pre B ALL on December 27 2005. Expected to go OT in Feb 2008. Julia lives in Pennsylvania.
"When Julia returned to pre-school after her hair fell out the first time, all of the boys wanted her hair to grow back green. The girls wanted her hair to grow back pink" |
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Julianna 'Banana' (age 5), dx 9/4/03 at age 3 1/2 with pre-B ALL, relapsed in CNS 12/31/03, OT -- SURVIVOR! Julianna lives in Canada. From her dad, Terry: "Without hope, there is no hope." |
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| Kaitlyn is seven years old. She was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV (At Age 3 and a half) on June the 21st 2003, N-MYC Non-Amplified, unfavourable shimada. With a tumour filling her abdomen, which had spread to her neck, knees, hips and cells in her bone marrow lining, she has been placed on a tough treatment protocol (COG ANBL00P1), which consists of 5 rounds of high dose chemo, surgery to remove as much remaining tumour as possible, two rounds of mega chemo, with Double Stem cell Transplants/rescues, followed by 10 rounds of radiation and six months of Accutane. At diagnosis we were given the terrible odds of less than 20%.
Kaitlyn's current condition - "Stable Calcified Disease remaining". Unfortunately Neuroblastoma is a cancer with an extremely high relapse rate and currently there is no cure. We remain forever hopeful that our girl continues to defy odds and remains "God's Miracle". Kaitlyn is the youngest of four children. She has a big sister named Rikki-Lea (16) and two brothers Brad (14) and Travis (11). She loves them all dearly and she is their princess. We are a single parent family living in a small country town in Western Australia. |
| Karl, dx 6/20/03 ALL, in treatment. Karl lives in Pennsylvania. |
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Katarina (age 3) dx at 19 months with pre B ALL on 03/17/04, CCG-1991 arm 1, scheduled off treatment 05/16/06. Katarina lives in Illinois. Anytime anyone is sick or not feeling well, including herself, she advises, “Drink lots of water to feel better.” |
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Katie (age 6), dx with pre-B ALL on 12/24/02, CCG1991, OT 2/19/05 -- an now an 18-month SURVIVOR! Katie lives in Pennsylvania. After hearing someone complain about not feeling well due to a cold, Katie responded: "It can't be that bad. You don't have Leukemia!" When seeing that she had a bloody stool, Katie calmly said: “My platelets must be low.” |
| Katie, dx with pre-B ALL. Katie lives in Canada. |
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Katie (age 6), dx with standard risk preB ALL on 5/11/04, CCG1991, OT 7/06. Katie lives in Pennsylvania. From Katie's mom, Sandy: "Katie is the most affectionate of my three children. She still needs a lot of lap time and loves to shower me with kisses and hugs. She asks me to hold her a lot when she's not feeling well or on her steroids. I waited a long time to have my daughter. I didn't have her until I was 42. The almost four years before she was diagnosed were the happiest years of my life. Now watching her go through treatment is heartbreaking, but worth it all, if we get to keep her awhile longer. She brings so much joy into our lives." |
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Katie Rose (age 9), dx 2/19/05 with Pre-B cell ALL, in treatment. Katie Rose was born with Diplomyelia (a split spinal cord). She has had 9 surgeries on her back and legs before her diagnosis of ALL. During her first year in treatment for ALL, she has had 5 addition surgeries, a lung washing, 20 blood transfusions and 63 inpatient days. Katie Rose lives in California. "Its helpful that we have doctors to give us medicine so we don't die." "The kids that do die all go to heaven." |
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Keegan (age 6), dx 5/8/03 at the age of 4 with pre-B ALL, late isolated CNS relapse in 1/06. Keegan lives in Georgia. "Kids shouldn't get cancer, because pokies hurt." |
| Kelly, dx with high-risk Pre-B ALL on 6/9/04, currently LTM, scheduled OT date 10/04/06. Kelly lives in Indiana.
Kelly also has Down syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, seizures, previous open heart, abdominal, orthopedic and ear surgeries. "Keep the prayers coming!" |
| Kelly Michelle Lindler Watts (forever 21), diagnosed on March 29, 2001 with Glioblastoma Multiforme (brain cancer). Kelly passed away on May 2, 2003 at 4:44 PM.
This 'saying' is our family favorite when it comes to Kelly’s memory. |
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Kelsie April Grace McKune was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma and began treatment on June 23, 2007. On October 23, 2007 she relapsed. November 23, 2007 -- exactly five months after diagnosis, Kelsie earned her angel wings. Gone from our sight but never our memories, Gone from our touch but never our hearts! |
| Kendrie, dx 10/03 with ALL, CCG1991, OT 12/05. Kendrie lives in Georgia. |
| Kiana (age 8) dx 5/16/98 with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma stage 4, OT 3/99. She is doing great. |
| Konrad (age 5 1/2) dx with stage 3 neuroblastoma tumor in at 6-months old. The tumor was the size of a softball. Konrad received chemo, surgeries, blood and platelet transfusions, neupogen injections, nulcear studies, and MRI's. He has been in remission for 4 1/2 years. Konrad lives in Pennsylvania.
"Experts say that less than 20% of this form of childhood cancer is caught before the age of 1-year, when it is most treatable. Konrad was very lucky, because he had no obvious signs of illness. He was a happy baby!" |
| Kiersten was 19 years old, and getting ready to go back to college when she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (Embryonal) in the orbit of her right eye and sphenoid sinus. She began treatment at an adult hospital where her treatment was stopped after 4 months even though the tumor was responding to the chemo. During the first four months she had 2 infected ports,a blood clot on her heart,pulmonary emboli, kidney stones and blood clots in her legs. She had no treatment for 5 months(January to July, 2005). When the doctor finally ordered scans, the tumor had taken over her head. She had major surgery to remove the tumor, rebuild the orbit of her eye, the barrier the brain rests on(cribiform plate), and some of the muscles at the base of the skull and the lining to her brain was patched with a cow's pericardium. Five weeks after surgery, the tumor returned. When she went to see the oncologist, the oncologist refused to see her.
The radiation oncologist assisted us in changing hospitals to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. After meeting with doctors there, who told us Kiersten had Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, not embryonal as we had been told previously, they decided that the best course of treatment would be to have a 50 week protocol of chemotherapy (Vincristine, Topetecan, Cyclophosfamide, Irinotecan, VP-16 and Etoposide) starting in July 2005. She also had 40 rounds of radiation in July and August, 2005. She is in week 44 of 50 weeks of treatment. She has lost 90 pounds and struggles to walk due to foot drop. We are happy because the tumor cannot be seen on the scans at this point. The tumor has responded well to the treatment. We hope that she will not relapse. She has had 39 hospitalizations since August 2004. Throughout this fight, Kiersten has maintained her sense of humor and a will to beat this cancer. She is fighting hard to get back to Goucher College where she had played basketball and enjoyed being a student. "We believe that it is very important to fund research for all types of cancer, especially children's cancer. Children are our future. No one should have to go through the pain and suffering that we have seen over the past 5 months." |
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Kristin, dx with pre-B ALL on 1/11/00 at age 19, relapsed 10/11/01 and 12/15/01, BMT (MUD) on 1/18/02 from an unrelated 30-year-old male donor from Australia. Day 25+ ‘CLEAR’ no leukemia, day 28+ 2/15/02 99% donor cells, day 100+ 4/29/02 ‘No Disease Present’ 100% donor cells. Kristin passed away 8/6/02 due to Nocardia Pnuemonia that was misdiagnosed and treated for 3 months as a fungal infection. Her one wish was to see research find a pill to cure Leukemia! Kristin gave 18 vials of blood for Dietric cell research in hopes that maybe it would help find a cure. Kristin was from Florida. When Kristin relapsed, she said: “Mom it's just another step to be cured.” |
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Kyle (age 2 years 7 months) dx with high risk T-cell ALL on 2/20/98 just 3 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday, relapsed while in treatment. Kyle passed away on 10/15/98. Kyle was from Pennsylvania. In Kyle Snyder's memory, the Kisses for Kyle Foundation helps other children local to the Philadelphia and the surrounding areas who are battling cancer. |
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Kyle (age 5), dx with high risk ALL on 10-29-03, in treatment until mid-2007. Kyle lives in Indiana. From his mom, Beth: "I sit here tonight near a sleeping child who is surviving leukemia even while still in treatment, fighting every step of the way, taking every complication and setback with a kind of unquestioning acceptance, and enjoying every day that's good with unbridled joy and unabashed hugs and love. I think perhaps we all work and hope to be like that, to be enough like Christ to accept what we can't change, enjoy the gifts we're given, and to love without limits. I spend a lot of time each day caring for someone who has taught me more about God and love and courage than anyone or anything else ever could have, and it is an unquestionable privilege. I suspect many parents of kids with cancer and other special needs feel much the same.” |
| Kyle (age 6), dx 1/27/06 with ALL, in treatment until 2009.
Right after he was diagnosed I was trying to explain to him what kind of cancer he has and he said, "Mommy, I don't have cancer. I just have boogers in my blood". When the doctor told him at his next visit he would have a spinal tap, Kyle's reaction was "Yes!!! I love those things!!" He is happier now than he ever was. He will be an Honored Hero for the Team In Training in 6/06. He will always be my hero!! Kyle's Motto is: "Ride with the tide and go with the flow" |
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| Laura (age 4) dx with hepatoblastoma 12/05, tumor resected 4/06, OT 6/06. Laura lives in Pennsylvania. |
| Leah (age 6), dx with ALL 11/25/01, relapsed 5/30/03, BMT 11/3/03, 2-years post transplant! SURVIVOR! Leah lives in Virginia. |
| Linus, dx with leukemia, mom is Co-founder of FACT (Families Against Cancer & Toxins) |
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Logan (age 5), dx with pre-B ALL on 9/13/04 at almost age 4, in treatment From his mom, April: “Hopes are the tiny seeds from which a beautiful tomorrow grows." -Author Unknown |
| Lucas, dx 1/20/04 high-risk ALL, in treatment. Lucas lives in Canada. |
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Lindsey Ann born May 30, 2005. At 15 months old (September 8th, 2006) she was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma stage III. We are just begining our journey. |
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| Maggie, dx with preB ALL on 12/03/01, OT 6/14/04, SURVIVOR! |
| Makade Gaige Thom (age 3), diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma |
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Marcus, dx 4/4/03 with ALL, slow responder, BMT 8/15/03, relapsed 11/26/03, earned his wings 1/14/04. Marcus was from Minnesota. From his mom, Teresa: “FOREVER IN MY ACHING HEART.” |
| Mari, dx with pre-b ALL 1/3/01, OT 7/03, SURVIVOR! |
| Mark (age 42), dx with Hodgkin's Disease, SURVIVOR! 22 years, committed suicide. Mark was from Pennsylvania. |
| Mary, dx with stage 4 Hodgkin's Disease |
| Matthew (age 6) dx with pre-b ALL on April, 1 2006. Matthew lives in Pennsylvania. |
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Matthew (age13), dx with standard risk ALL on 11/00 at age 8, OT 1/04. BM relapse 12/04. Currently going through 135 more weeks of chemo. Matthew is active in Cross Country and Soccer. He is currently in school and doing well. Matthew lives in Indiana. Matthew's motto: "Never Give Up". He has rallied his school, church and community behind him and is spreading his motto to many. |
| Maximilian, dx with T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, CNS involvement, SCT and CNS radiation 4/02, OT 8/03, SURVIVOR! |
| McKayla, dx with ALL on 1/29/04. McKayla lives in California. |
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Megan, dx with high risk pre-B ALL on 11/20/02, OT 4/29/05 "Though the battle is long and hard... friends will be there by your side." |
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Melanie (age 9), dx with T-cell ALL on 7/25/02, OT 9/20/04 - SURVIVOR! Melanie lives in Michigan. Melanie is featured in Katie's Cooking! "I got through cancer because everybody encouraged me and always gave me hope. I hope that researchers can find a cure for all childhood cancers." |
| Melissa (age 36), dx with ALL January of 1974 at age three, went into remission in 1977. Melissa lives in Pennsylvania.
"I am healthy and have a wonderful husband and ten year old son." |
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Michael (age 7), dx with ALL on 4/6/01, OT 5/26/04 |
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Michael (age12), dx with ALL on 7/15/99, OT 9/16/02 |
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Mitchell (age 11), dx with high-risk ALL on 6/25/01 at 6 years of age, chemo with brain/eye radiation, OT 3/28/04. Mitchell is featured in Katie's Cooking! |
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Molly (age 4 1/2), dx with high-risk pre-B ALL TEL-AML1 on 11/10/03, CCG1961 Arm C, set to go OT in 3/06 From her mom, Donna: "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" |
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| Nicholas, dx with ALL on 11/10/03. Nicholas lives in Ohio. |
| Noelle,dx with pre-B ALL TEL-AML1 on 3/26/04. Noelle lives in New Jersey. |
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Reece, dx 9/7/04 with pre-B ALL at age 2 1/2, in treatment |
| Remi, dx with Embryonal Rhabdomayosarcoma Stage 3 9/05 in treatment.
Please support the Pediatric Cancer Foundation because "Kids should fly Kites... not fight cancer." |
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Richard-Brett (age 4), dx with Stage V Bilateral Wilms Tumors on 9/24/02, OT 2/27/03. Richard-Brett lives in California. “Chicks dig scars!” -- that’s what we always tell him when he asks about his ‘battle’ scars. |
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Ronnie 'Gooch', (age 8 1/2), dx with pre-B ALL on 7/19/00, OT 2003. Ronnie lives in Connecticut. Ronnie likes all animals, video games, swimming and bike riding. When he grows up, Ronnie wants to be "a doggie doctor". Rachel, who was about 8 when Ronnie was diagnosed said, "I dont understand why they call it acute leukemia... there's nothing cute about it!" |
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Ryan (brother to Ashley, also dx with ALL) dx with standard risk pre-B ALL on 1/10/04 at the age of 21 months, should be OT on 6/10/06. Ryan lives in Wisconsin. |
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Samantha (age 5), dx with ALL on 11/19/04, in treatment. Samantha lives in Canada. "Hope, Courage, Love. Strength, Bravery" |
| Samantha (age 16) dx 4/3/06 Wilms Tumor Stage IV, metastasis to Liver, Lungs, and Diaphragm. In treatment until 10/06. Samantha lives in Washington. |
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Sarah (age 6), dx with pre-B ALL on 8/24/04. |
| Savanna (2 yrs old), dx with a very rare lung cancer called PleuroPulmonary Blastoma at 18 months. She had a collapsed lung and they found cysts. Doctors did not know why are what they were. They operated and told us that our precious baby had a rare childhood lung cancer called PleuroPulmonary Blastoma. Savanna had to have another surgery August 4th to remove 1/3 of her upper and middle lobes of her right lung and to remove a tumor around her heart. I am happy to say that she is in Remission!!! She is our Miracle Baby.
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| Savannah (age 16 -- almost 17), DX: Osteosarcoma to right tibia, Nov. 2000. Savannah lives in Colorado.
"Yesterday is history |
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Scarlett (age 12 - going on 20!!), dx at age 4 with ALL |
| Shad, born 16/06/1995 and diagnosed 16/10/1997 with Medulloblastoma brain tumour. He underwent chemo, radiation, passed away Sept 5, 2000 at the age of five.
Forever loved and missed by Mom, Dad and big brother Shafiq |
| Shannon, dx with pre-B ALL on 7/16/02, OT 9/17/04, SURVIVOR! |
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Shelby, dx with pre-b ALL 8/99 at age 4, OT 4/02. Counting down till cured in 4/07! |
| Shelby, dx with Pre-B ALL on January 16, 2004. Shelby lives in Michigan. |
| Sierra, dx with ALL on 12/14/02. Sierra lives in New Jersey. |
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Star (age 4), dx 6/15/04 with Wilms tumor. Star passed away on 2/7/05. Star was from Texas. |
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Stevie Ray (age 5), dx high risk Pre-B ALL, OT 4/13/05. Stevie Ray lives in Canada. |
| Steven (32 months old) DX 8-6-05 Wilms Tumor ST 1, OT 11-17-05. Steven lives in Maryland.
From our friend and angel Kyle “Celebrate Life- Kyle’s Way.” "No child should have to suffer the way these kids do." |
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Tevi, dx 01/99, 4 yrs, nbIV, N-myc amp, Poor histology, Shimada unfavorable, Over 6 Years EFS, Complete tumor resection 05/99, Right Radical Nephrectomy, resection of right Adrenal, Six Years+ post Transplants ABMT's 05/99, 07/99, TBI 07/99, Focal Radiation 10/99, Completed Accutane 04/00, HAMA Positive after one round of Dr. Cheung's 3F8 Monoclonal Antibodies 06/00 - 07/00, Daily injection of HGH to stimulate growth, a side-effect of TBI, Nodules on entry to stomach caused by focal rads, being treated with more meds. Tevi lives in Ireland. |
| Thomas, dx ALL 2/03, replased 2/04, SCT 7/23/04, ANGEL 9/11/04. Thomas was from New Jersey.
The Thomas Peterpaul Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable foundation that seeks to: find the cause and cure of childhood cancers through direct support of medical research, increase public awareness about the severity and prevalence of childhood cancers, support patients and their families through a variety of services. The foundation's goal is to donate approximately 100% of its funds directly to patients and their families and to cancer centers' research departments. |
| Timmy (age 6), dx with ALL 12/02, OT 2/06. Timmy lives in Pennsylvania. |
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Travis (age 4) dx with ALL on 2/6/04. Travis lives in Pennsylvania. |
| Travis, dx with T-Cell ALL 6-20-03, OT 8/29/05. Travis lives in Michigan. |
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Tyler (age 9), dx 7/22/04 with high risk T-cell ALL, was in LTM then relapsed 1/06. Tyler lives in New Jersey. "Cancer sucks! But Im gonna beat it!” |
| Tyson, dx wtih ALL 10/02, OT 6/05. Tyson lives in Florida. |
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Victor (age 7), dx with high risk ALL 6/5/03, cranial radiation & chemo, isolated spinal fluid relapse 2/12/05, unrelated cord blood transplant 5/10/05. Victor lives in Pennsylvania. |
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| Wilson, dx with standard risk ALL 11/12/02. Wilson lives in Michigan. |
For details of the types of cancer listed here, please visit: Types of Childhood Cancer. Our GLOSSARY will provide more information about the terms used here.
LEGEND:
ALL = Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
angel, earned wings = passed away
BMB = bone marrow biopsy
BMT = bone marrow transplant
CCG, POG = protocols/clinical studies
CNS = central nervous system
dx = diagnosis or diagnosed
EFS = event-free survival (survival without relapse or death)
Risk group (high, standard, low) = in ALL patients, relates to white cell count at dx
LTM = long term maintenance chemotherapy
MUD = matched unrelated donor
OT = off treatment, off therapy
pre-B, T-cell, TEL-AML1+ = IMMUNOPHENOTYPES
relapse = return of cancer, no longer in remission
SCT = stem cell transplant
survivor = cancer-free and no longer in treatment
Many of these children are from our Courageous Kids Collage found in Katie's Cooking!
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The contents of this site is for informational purposes only. The journal entries are from our personal experiences and are not meant as medical advice. The artwork and personal content on this web site is the property of Patty Harr and can not be copied or used for any other purpose without written permission. Copyright © 2009 katieswish.com |
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