My Story

Caitlin Rose Russell, 4, was diagnosed with Wilm's tumor on March 13, 2008. She finished 26 weeks of chemo in September after a break for surgery and radiation in May. November tests showed no sign of disease!

She has returned to school, joining her Ecole Bilingue classmates on the first day of class. (Read more by clicking on "read story.")

Journal

Friday, June 5, 2009 6:59 AM, CDT


I need your help. While Cailtin continues to do great -- largely because of your prayers -- other precious children continue to battle with cancer, and Wilms in particular.

Of course when Caitlin was sick, we met dozens of other children with cancer. A few children really tug at my heart because of their closeness to Caitlin or Elise in age. One of those children is Pablo Castelaz (that's his photo on the left). We learned of Pablo through a friend at Caitlin's school who knows Pablo's family in Los Angeles. From what I've learned of Pablo, I think he and Caitlin have the same type of spirits. They are day dreamers and old souls who seem to take every twist and turn of this disease with a smile and nod of the head.

Pablo will turn 6 on June 21. He was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms in May of last year. His form of Wilms, though, is more aggressive than Caitlin's. Pablo's tumors were removed and he has had some really nasty chemo to fight the cancer. But in April, just weeks after his last round of chemo, he had a relapse. Tumors showed up on his lungs.

While Pablo's family researches their options, they are asking one thing -- for everyone to pray for Pablo to beat the cancer. As Pablo's dad Jeff eloquently has put it this morning on a twitter post: "Pray for Pablo. Dream of Pablo. see him running, with no tumors in his lungs. See him racing a bike up a mountain road, laughing. Thank you"

Please check out Pablo's blog and follow his progress at http://getwellpablo.blogspot.com.

I know you guys are the best prayer warriors around, so please focus some positive prayer westward toward Pablo.

Love
Pam

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HOSPITAL INFORMATION

Children's Hospital of New Orleans
LA