On Monday, November 29th my husband and I were given news we never imagined to hear. Your son has cancer. Wyatt was found to have a large kidney tumor and a lung nodule, later diagnosed as a Wilm's tumor stage IV . That night he was admitted to Children's of Alabama for a 12 day stay. On December 3, 2021. he underwent a surgery called a radical nephroureterectomy in which the surgeon removed the tumor, his left kidney , ureter and many lymph nodes. He also had a port placed in his chest to receive his chemotherapy.
Wyatt did amazingly during and after his surgery. However, some of the tumor had spilled into the muscles of his back. Treatment for this was six rounds of radiation to his flank. He completed these treatments a few days before Christmas and impressively was able to do the final 3 treatments without sedation. He isn't a big fan of how the propofol makes him feel, so that was all the motivation he needed to lie still for his treatment He began chemotherapy in the hospital prior to discharge and has been getting it every Monday.
We enjoyed our Christmas together and Wyatt celebrated his 5th Birthday while we awaited genetic results that would dictate Wyatt's treatment course. The original pathology was favorable, so we were optimistic the genetics would be as well. Unfortunately, on January 10th we received news the genetics of the tumor were unfavorable. Wyatt was positive for 3 genetic markers, 2 of which have been associated with a higher chance of recurrence or death in the past. Luckily, due to advances in treatment, it has been discovered that children with these markers have a much improved 4 year Event Free Survival rate (61% vs. 90%) with augmentation of their treatment plan.
The new treatment protocol will add 2 chemo drugs to the 3 he is already on and full lung radiation. The new chemo requires close monitoring in the hospital where he will receive both medications daily for 5 days. We will have to do this 4 times over the next 6 months and he will continue to go weekly for chemotherapy in clinic when he is not admitted.
We cannot thank everyone enough for the support Wyatt, Steven and I have received. We have felt God all around us and know that HE is with us every step of this journey. Keep the prayers coming. This is obviously an abbreviated version of the last 6 weeks of our experience , so if anyone has questions let me know and I'll see if I can answer them. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers!
