Sofia had a UTI that started in October of 2022 that would not go away even with antibiotics. She had an ultrasound done of her bladder and kidneys in November which showed nothing. She was hospitalized in December 2022 while we were in Florida visiting family, was experiencing excruciating pain when she would urinate they did a ultrasound at the hospital and saw something this time they believed to be a blood clot because childhood bladder cancer is very rare. They told us to follow up with urologist when we get back to Maryland. She started to have heavy bleeding in her diaper at this time too. She saw the urologist on January 20, 2023 he did a bedside ultrasound and suspected the tumor. She was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma on January 31 and by February 3 she was in surgery having her port placed and received 3 different chemos that night.
She has a port in her right chest and a feeding tube. She lost a lot of weight in the beginning and required the NG tube then feeding tube. She had 28 radiation treatments to her bladder. Countless MRI, CT scans and Pet scans. Also for the fist 2 rounds of treatment she required a urinary catheter because the tumor was at the base of her bladder coming down her urethra.
Sofia always is smiling she has so much strength in her little body!
Hope session by Kate Hollings Photography | Facebook | Instagram