Peyton Stratton

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It all started about a month ago when Peyton started to lose weight. For those who know her well, she loves to eat. Not a lot, but all the time. I was thinking that it was just kid stuff, not growing, ya know the saying, the less they eat and the more they sleep..growing time. I was sooo wrong. We went to the Eagles family picnic at the lake on th 24th of August and she was really not herself. Got sick at the end of the day and just didn't do much. Slept most of the day. She was ok on Monday, but Tuesday I was at work and received a phone call from Country Corner Day Care. It was Denee, an employee and friend. She let me know that Peyton had been tired all day and woke up from her nap crying and just wanting to lay down and her belly was hurting. I let her know that since she hadn't ate much or drank much that I would bring her to the ER in Bennington, just incase that she needed fluids or something. Denee had also mentioned that she had been away for a week on vacation and she noticed just how skinny she had become. Wake up call!! I guess I can say that I was not noticing the weight loss as much because I see her every day, I don't know. Well, we get to the ER, mind you I had Brogan (my 6 month old) and Peyton. I wasn't sure how long I was going to be so I called Linda and Harold (Great Friends who love my kids as their own) to come and get Brogan. They wanted to do an Xray and an ultra sound. Peytons Belly felt very solid and they wanted to explore further. Brogan went home with Linda and Harold and I proceeded to do as they told me with Peyton. She was hungry after the tests so they brought her some cereal. I was all excited she wanted to eat. Next thing I knew, the Dr was coming in and a nurse was taking over helping Peyton and I was being led to a family room to find out that my daughter, 3 and a half has a large tumor growing on her kidney and whatever else as well has in her lungs. I was to then choose where to transport her Albany Med or Dartmouth. The ER Dr had worked with a woman by the name of Dr Porter who is an oncologist who specializes in pediatric oncology and he said she was very good. So here I begin my journey, Albany Medical Center, and my story begins.... My father and Jennifer drove Frank myself and Peyton to Albany Med that evening, by 4:30am she was having a Cat Scan. We met with Dr Porter and was told that she was 99% sure that Peyton had what is called a Wilmes Tumor. This is a common Tumor that can be found in children 5 and under. She also had some spots starting in the lungs where it had traveled through her blood stream. By 5:30 Wednesday she was having a port put in for her Chemo Treatments and what ever else she would soon endure as well as a biopsy done of the tumor. News spread fast and sister Manda flew in Wednesday evening to stay with us as well, with Gramma Kate soon to follow. Many visits from family and friends and many emails and phone calls of support. 2 full days of being in the hospital and several tests later, we had a "road map" developed which showed a guidline of her weekly chemo treatments and after her 6th week a re evaluation to see how much the tumor has shrunk. Depending on this shrinkage, Surgeons may decide to remove her tumor. This is also where she would lose her kidney that this tumor has stemmed off. According to the Drs and from what I gather of the cat scan pictures, they say that her kidney may have been growing this since birth. There are no symptoms with this and white blood cells don't elevate and there is really no way to find this with Regular office visits until it gets as big as hers and you can feel it. (Hers is bigger than a softball at this time) Since it gros from the kidneys, it grows from the back up. Anyways, she has since undergone 2 Chemo treatments which she will get every Thursday. We are, however, STILL in the hospital. Mommy hasn't left since we arrived, Daddy had to go home for work after he stayed several days with us. Hunter is with my father and Jen and Brogan is still with Linda and Harold. Now that this is for the most part caught up to date with the story, I will continue to update daily in the journal....