About a month ago, one of my friends told me about the son of one of her childhood friends. Beginning last March, the little boy started complaining of belly aches. The parents took him to the doctor, who said he thought it was just constipation, and sent the family home.
Over the course of the next month, the boy still complained of random tummy pain. Finally, one night the parents thought something was really wrong and took him to the ER.
That's when they discovered the tumor. Luke Hawley was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma in his abdomen at the age of 2. It had already progressed to a Stage IV tumor and invaded his lymph nodes and bone marrow.
To date, Luke has had 6 chemo treatments and will receive a stem cell transplant next week. The tumor was reduced to the point that it was successfully removed a few weeks ago.
I've never met this family but their story literally brought tears to my eyes. This little boy is so young and so little to have to go through something like this. I've been following their progress via Facebook.
This morning, one of my childhood friends posted a similar story. She knows a family whose daughter was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma (adrenal tumor) in 2006. This little girl has undergone 7 chemo treatments and will receive a bone marrow transplant next week. Her name is Taylor Love and she is 5 years old.
In both cases, the children didn't exhibit any symptoms until the tumor had progressed to the point to cause symptoms. By then, it had already invaded the surrounding tissue and bone marrow.
As a human being, these 2 stories absolutely break my heart. As a mother, I cry. I can't imagine what these families are going through.
Even more worrisome, both families live in the same community. I looked it up on-line and only 650 cases are reported in the United States each year. To have 2 within 10 miles of my house is extremely disturbing. I don't think there's any environmental reason for it. I think it is just pure coincidence but still.
It's scary. And, I'm going to give my kids extra hugs and kisses today.
If you'd like to help via donation or just offer support, here's the links to both families:
Luke Hawley: http://www.facebook.com/TeamLuke
Taylor Love: http://taylorlove.org/index2.php
2 comments:
Just been to their sites and cried my eyes out!
Going to give my boys hugs and kisses, even though they are sound asleep.
xxx
Hi - I just found your blog via EB's blog IVF40+. I just had my twins 4 weeks ago and it was our 8th IVF> I recently turned 42 and we used DE this time around. ANyway - we have to much in common I just thought I'd drop a quick comment.
How did you make our the first three months? I am struggling and finding it all very difficult to manage. Everyone says to feed them together but it's impossible when there's only one person around at that time. If you get a chance, could you drop me a line and I can ask you some questions? my name should link to my email. thanks!
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