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This is Rebecca, a true warrior in her fight with Neuroblastoma that took her life so young.
Her smile is priceless.
Hero to Many! Loved by All!
Rebecca was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma on Friday, April 23, 1999. She had just turned four years old. Becca had been sick for about six to eight weeks prior to diagnosis. She progressively got worse with her symptoms that led her to several doctors visits. Becca went from the ER department to being admitted to Children's Hospital, where she had major surgery to remove a tumor from her right adrenal gland. After she recovered from the surgery, she began her first cycle of chemotherapy, and she went home after being in the hospital for one month. I have pictures of that day she finally go to come home, full of smiles, and so much happiness that she was finally going home. Becca was in and out of the hospital that year as she did nine cycles of chemotherapy. There were times she had to be admitted for precaution when she ran a fever while on chemotherapy. Becca always had a great attitude, full of smiles and was so happy though her life changed so dramatically. She went from a three year old playing with dolls, and fighting with her brother and sisters to cancer it seems over night.
On October 19, 1999, Becca was NED (no evidence of disease) after so many rounds of chemotherapy. Then she had her stem cells harvested to prepare for bone marrow transplant. This was a week long ordeal where by she had to stay connected to a machine that cycled through her blood to collect stem cells. Becca then went to BMT on December 8, 1999. We were told that she would not be home for Christmas, and so we prepared for the month long stay at the hospital in the Bone Marrow Transplant section of the 5th floor. Santa even delivered toys early to TCH for Becca, but Santa had other plans for Ms. Becca because we all got the biggest surprise as on December 23, 99, Becca came home from the hospital just in time for Christmas. It was the best Christmas gift we ever received. After the holidays passed, Becca started radiation treatment for six weeks, and then she got a break from major treatment for a while. Accutane was a drug that she started to rid off any NB cells while her cancer was in remission. There was a period for a few months that Becca was restricted where she could go and what she could do since she her immune system was compromised by her bone marrow transplant. She wore a blue mask that covered most of her little face if she did go out in public. She came home on IV nutrition and lipids because of her loss of appetite from BMT. Slowly, Becca came back to as normal of a life as she could.
The cancer was in remission for one year and a half, and then we received the bad news once again, that the Neuroblastoma had returned. Becca just finished her first year of school, and by the end of the school year she was limping and having pain in her legs. More chemo was given, but a much lower dose, and she did several more rounds to rid off the cancer. Then she began a year long experimental treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Becca and I traveled every seven weeks for her to receive treatment. She went into another NED status that prolonged her life for another year, and then upon our last trip to MSKCC, we learned that once again that the Neuroblastoma was back. This time a tumor in her left femur. A low dose of chemo was started. The cancer progressed even more we learned on January 23, 2004 on our oldest daughter's 15th birthday. We celebrated like nothing was going on, but inside my husband and I were dying as watched Becca celebrate her last time on her sister's birthday.
We decided to stop treatment and take a trip to Hawaii, somewhere Becca had always talked about going, so that is what we did. It was the best time our lives, and we managed to make many special memories with Becca. She started to feel bad near the end of our trip. Becca wanted to stay in HA for her 9th birthday, and so we had the biggest birthday celebration all day and evening long. Our family celebrated on another beach, and Becca was honored for her special day. Then we flew into CA to stop by and see family on the way back to Denver per Becca's request. We made it back in time as her pain progressed, and the cancer started to present itself ever more then before. Becca passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at 12:40 pm at home where she wanted to be, with her family near her, and her stuffed animal kitty cats. She fought hard to stay with us for as long as she could, she had a faith that she knew where she was going, and she lived her life to the fullest. She left behind many gifts for our family and others who never got the chance to meet her. One of her gifts is her art work that she spent hours drawing, some of which she wanted to sell for NB research to find a cure. She was hoping that it would save her life, but now it can be used to save others. Becca left a legacy, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure that I share it with everyone in the world that I can. This is the story of my little girl, Rebecca Anna Jean Lockler. She is forever my angel, and a special gift that will last me a life time.
Journal
Friday, February 24, 2006 7:13 AM CST February 17, 2006, Rebecca Anna Jean is 11 years old in heaven. Fly high, my angel.
A lot has changed since my last entry, and life is good in the midst of my grief and missing my angel.
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Links: http://www.NB-Angels.org NB-Angels group
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