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Welcome to our childs Web page, this page has been created to keep our family and friends updated on Michaels journey, and to share our story with other families.
It was Oct. 18th 2002 when our lives would be changed forever. Michael came home from preschool with what we believed at the time was a puffy jaw, he complained of a toothache. After a routine trip to a dentist we were sent to Hackensack University Medical Center for a CAT scan so the Doctors could figure out what the swelling was from. The Doctors confirmed there was a growth in Michaels jaw but needed to follow up the next morning with and MRI to get a better picture of what they were dealing with. At no time during these two days did I think that we would be in for the diagnosis of our Four year old son having a malignant tumor. After his MRI we were notified by the DR. that this was no fatty sist or lesion it was a tumor and since it was a Saturday night there was nothing they could do for us until Monday when we went to see an ENT (Ear, Nose& Throat Dr.). Our pediatrician had set up an appt. for us to meet with a very reputable ENT on Monday Oct.21,2002. After our meeting with Dr. Respler we knew we were not dealing with some "minor" situation, and we would not know what we were dealing with until a biopsy was performed the next day.
Tuesday Oct.22,2002, Michael had a Biopsy on the tumor. We got that phone call that changed our lives on Wednesday October 23, Our most precious Michael was diagnosed with Stage III embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. He had a tumor that was malignant over 3 inches in his jaw, cheek, and back of his throat and they were going to try to remove this with surgery. The survival rate for the Stage that Michael was diagnosed with is 17%. The next morning Michael returned to Hackensack Hospital for another round of tests ( bone scan, Bonemarrow Biopsy, spinal tap, and blood work) that would give us some hope that the cancer did not spread and at this point this tumor was localized. They set his surgery for the next week.
On Thursday October 31,2002 instead of putting on his Spiderman Costume, Michael became a real life hero and started the fight of his life. He underwent a 10 1/2 hour surgery. The surgeons were very confident that they removed the tumor but would have to wait for the results of the margins to see if he would need radiation with his chemotherapy. Both surgeons Dr. Resplar and Dr. Rosen are blessings to our family for what they did for our child and are truly gifted surgeons. Michael spent 13 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with a trech tube to breath and a feeding tube to eat. It was like something out of a movie, and it had become our lives. Michael came home on November 13th 2002 with both the trech tube removed and he had started eating on his own. This part of our nightmare was behind us and the next battle was about to start the chemotherapy and the radiation. On November 20th 2002, Michael started what will be 47 weeks of VAC treatment both inpatient and outpatient and in Febuary he will have 4 1/2 weeks of radiation (23 days) along with the chemotherapy. We will share our journey with all of you as we go along and appreciate everyones prayers and support through this most difficult time. Michael is a courageous little boy and is putting up one hell of a fight.
*** After 327 days of treatment our little warrior is officially in REMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael had his end of treatment scans on Thursday 9/11 and we received word from his Dr's that the scans were all clean and there is no sign of tumor or cancer. Those are words that we could only one day dream of hearing one year ago. When I think about the last year I do not know how any of us found the strength to make it, but one look in those big brown eyes and the fight was on. It is through the strength of this little boy that we all learned how to be strong. There was not one day that went by that this little man did not amaze us with his courage. He and all his friends who have fought and are fighting are truly heros.
It has been 327 days of total treatment - The breakdown goes something like this
15 days in Pediatric intensive care after 11/1/2 hours of surgery to remove the tumor.
14 admissions overnight for chemotherapy
9 overnight admissions for fevers and infections.
23 straight days of radiaiton with sedation
11 Cat scans
14MRI's
8 Chest x-rays
2 bone scans
15 blood transfusions/6 platlet transfusions
can not even count the blood tests, sometime every day
235 GCSF injections to raise his white count........
and everything inbetween that I would rather not remember.
Journal
Sunday, August 7, 2011 10:18 PM CDT Happy 13th Birthday to my most amazing Mikey! Mommy loves you to pieces and we are just so grateful for everyday we have with you! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
We could not be more proud of you
Mommy& Daddy
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