Kayden was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyosarcoma) (RMS) in September of 2020. RMS is a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue. RMS can occur at any age, but it most often affects children. It is a large mass found on the left side of his skull putting pressure on his eye and ear.
Kayden is under the amazing care of Dr. Zhihong Wang at Childrens' Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The original test results in 2020 were promising. There appeared to be no damage to the optic nerve although the pressure of the tumor caused his eye to remain closed.
Kayden entered into a clinical study and receive aggressive radiation and chemotherapy. In November of 2021 after year of chemo and radiation the tumor was significantly reduced in size and and what remained in the scans was thought to be scar tissue. Cured! Remission! His port was removed and we walked away from the Children's Hospital at VCU feeling ever so grateful and blessed. We were one of the lucky ones.
Until we weren't. Regular follow up scans revealed heightened activity in the same area. A biopsy in January of 2023 confirmed our greatest fear...the cancer had returned. Cancer cells if not killed come back with a stronger vengeance. And so our journey begins.
