Hudson is a sweet, gentle 6 year old boy. He loves videogames and building with Legos. He has an older sister & a younger sister and is a friend to everyone.
In the spring of this year, Hudson had swelling on one side of his neck and was very tired. He was diagnosed with Advanced Stage Nodular Lymphocyte Predominate Hodgkin Lymphoma in April.
We are still working to fully understand the ins and outs of this world.
Scarlett was diagnosed with a tumor at only 12 weeks gestation. She was then born at 27 weeks due to how big the tumor was. She was then diagnosed with yolk sac carcinoma at only 4 weeks old. She has been fighting ever since.
At only 12 weeks gestation, our doctor noticed a tumor at the end of our baby’s spine. We lived in Nevada at the time. Due to the severity of her health, causing her heart to be enlarged, fetal hydrops & much more, we ended up in labor & delivery in Colorado. After a long 5 month NICU stay & two surgeries – one to remove her tailbone – we got to home to Nevada, who did not offer enough care, we ended up in California to receive better care. When we found out her tumors had come back and she was in kidney failure. She had been fighting since she was born. But she’s still a very happy girl.
She’s been through 4 tumor removal surgeries for her total of 8 tumors. She’s had a g tube surgery & Fundoplication surgery. She’s currently going through chemotherapy.
This has changed our family’s life from selling our house & moving for better care to my husband taking a lot of time off work to be present for Scarlett and her two siblings.Â
Ava was only 2 months old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. She had a cross eye, which we, as new parents, were assured was normal for newborns. She wouldn’t not make eye contact yet and was frequently looking toward lights. At her 2 month old pediatrician appointment, she began having rapid eye movements that were abnormal and we were referred to an eye specialist. Within a week or so, Ava had been diagnosed with eye cancer and we were off to Philadelphia (from Virginia) to see the leading provider for this cancer.
Ava received systemic chemotherapy for 6 months. During that time, she also had tumors in both of her eyes treated with laser and cryotherapy. After only 2 months of stability, Ava had recurrence of her tumor growth and then had to receive intra arterial chemotherapy delivered by a neurosurgeon via a specialized procedure that gave chemo into her ophthalmic artery. In between treating both of her eyes with this, she had some chemo injected directly into the vitreous fluid of her eye. She routinely received MRIs and Eye Exams under anesthesia to evaluate tumor growth and to ensure that cancer had no spread into the brain.
Ava’s diagnosis and treatment have made us realize how precious life is and that we should value every minute that we have in this life. We have met so many amazing people and families that have helped us along the way. We also have realized just how amazing kids are!
Erialys was diagnosed in February 2022 and had a relapse in July 2023. We had to travel to St Jude for a bone marrow transplant. In relation to the transplant, thank God she has been very well, but two weeks after the transplant she became very complicated to the point of almost dying in December due to multi-organ failure and a virus. She has survived many things and that is why we want to make a photo section to remember such a bitter moment and so that she always remembers how strong she is and how strong she can be.
She is a very happy and affectionate girl, with a strong character and great personality!
Theo was diagnosed with neuroblastoma 4 years ago, he is on his second relapse as of three weeks ago, and sadly this time there is not cure.
He had bone pain, and what doctors at the time diagnosed as an eye infection which was instead cancer. He has been through chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplant and others.
Going through this, it makes you learn what is and what is not important in life. Theo is the light of my life!
Harper was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia on 10/6/21. She has fought for two and a half years and is due to ring the bell this coming Monday 3/4/24.
She got sick and had this lingering cough that wouldn’t go away. I took her back to the doctor several times and they sent us away. She was also having weird symptoms prior to this that had me worried. Finally they did an xray and found a melon sized tumor in her chest which lead to diagnosis. Her treatment includes chemotherapy, steroids, lumbar punctures, bone marrow aspirations, blood transfusions, and so much more.
This has robbed us of time. I was so focused on my child with cancer that her two sisters were left in the background a lot. Cancer has brought anxieties to her sisters that we’re trying to manage. It truly affects the whole family, not just the patient in so many different ways.
