This page was set up to update our friends and family about our three year old son, Mark. Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma in January of 1999 at the age of 13 months. He underwent chemo, surgery, radiation, and Accutane. In November of 2000, we found out that Mark had relapsed in his brain, bone marrow, and also a tumor on one of his ribs. He had surgery to remove the tumor from his brain. He also underwent two rounds of chemo. On Valentine's Day 2001, I found out that despite receiving chemo, two new tumors had grown in his brain in a matter of a month. I had to make the heartbreaking decision to stop the chemo and bring him home to be a little boy and to be able to enjoy what time he had left. He did several rounds of Fenretinide which seemed to keep the cancer stable for awhile. Towards the end of May, it became obvious that the cancer was spreading rapidly and we had to put Mark on hospice. We spent 6 weeks on hospice until Mark passed away in his daddy's arms on July 1, 2001.

Journal

Thursday, December 25, 2008 7:16 AM CST

I just wanted to write and wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas! This year has just flown by and of course we miss Mark as always. This year, Ryan started fullday Kindergarten. He is getting so grown up and is so full of energy. Brandon is in 4th grade and although we have had some more issues with him this year, he is making progress and such a joy! I decided to go back to school fulltime in the fall and hopefully with get my degree sometime in this lifetime. :) I want to thank all of you who still check in to see how we are doing. My prayers go out to all the angel familes, the familes still going through treatment, and all the rest of the familes who have had their lives touched by cancer. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Links:

E-mail Author: kksalvador@yahoo.com

---

 

Your gift will help millions of people stay connected with friends and loved ones during challenging times.

---

 

This page has been viewed 24845 times.

Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.