Virginia Sanabria

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

HOW DID WE GET HERE:

This journey with Hodgkin's Lymphoma started sometime in JAN 2016 when Virginia contracted Mononucleosis.  We just thought she had a virus.  A couple of days at home & back to school like any other normal winter cold.  But a month later, Virginia had enlarged lymph nodes in her neck.  We went to the pediatrician, and after labs learned that she "HAD HAD" mononucleosis, but so had a lot of kids at school during that winter.  We were assured it was normal to have this problem, & watchful waiting was in order.    Months went by, & the lymph nodes continued to be enlarged.  Virginia was sent to an ENT several times & diagnosed with reactive lymph nodes "nothing to be concerned about."  Another 6 months went by with continued enlarged lymph nodes, but with the addition of new symptoms including itching everywhere & elevated white blood cell counts.  There were more visits to the ENT, but also an allergist & dermatologist.  Lots of allergy medications, lotions for her skin, & a recommendation for Clorox baths (the only thing that really worked).  The specialists were convinced this was a reaction to working in a Vet Clinic & since Virginia wasn't going to stop being around animals any time soon, we just went on with the status quo.  This past winter Virginia basically wore sandals because of the itching, but as odd as it sounds, we tried to normalize all of this.  It was difficult for any of the medical providers to determine what these combination of symptoms meant, but they were reassuring that it wasn't cancer because those tests "all came back negative."  We got lulled out of this acceptance this past April when the oral surgeon who was examining her wisdom said although they needed be to removed, he wouldn't do it because her lymph nodes were so enlarged.  When did you ever hear of an oral surgeon who would remove wisdom teeth?  So we became posed on finding answers.  So fast forward after a couple more specialists and  a negative needle biopsy,  Virginia eventually had a chest x-ray & CAT scan that revealed enlarged lymph nodes in neck & chest.  The open biopsy was conducted on JUN 18th, & we got the results with a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma on JUN 21.    We were immediately referred to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis TN  -  What an amazing place!!!  Virginia has now completed the 1st of a 6-series chemotherapy treatment protocol.     

This experience is surreal, painful, gut-wrenching, horrible  & humbling all at the same time . . . . . yet, we are able to see glimpses that God is with us & keeping Virginia in the palm of His hand.  We are extremely grateful for all the support from family & friends.  So now the journey continues through this very special website that will help us keep everyone in the loop with each step that we take . . . . . .