Adrina is amazing! So outgoing and out spoken. She has a awesome sense of humor and is a little daredevil. She’s easy to make laugh.
In June of 2016, we noticed some changes in her health. She had an upset stomach, couldn’t eat and many fevers. On June 2, 2016, she was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor – Stage 4. Wilms Tumor is a mass of cancer cells that grow in the kidney tissue and accounts for 95% of kidney and renal cancers in children under 14.
She has had one major surgery on June 6,2016 to remove the tumor and kidney. She been in treatment since June 20,2012. So far with 2 rounds of radiation and another abdominal surgery due to scar tissue suffocating her intestines.
Cancer has changed all our lives. We can’t do stuff a regular family can anymore. We need to be very aware of Adrina’s counts before making any kind of plans.
Childhood cancer ins’t just cute bald kids that get to have their wishes come true. It’s being poked with needles every week to have labs done or shots at home everyday after chemo. It’s dealing with stomach aches and vomiting and so much more! This is why these kids are heroes. They go through stuff adults can’t even handle. Adrina is our hero!
Kahlo is one of the most happiest children I know, he loves superheroes and currently loves the characters of the Frozen movie. He loves playing legos with his older brother Aiden.
On July 16th, we took him to the emergency room because he had blood in his urine. We found out he had Wilms Tumor just days later. Wilms Tumor is a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys and always affects children. There are two types of Wilms Tumor cells, favorable and unfavorable. Thankfully Kahlo’s tumor came back with favorable results and this means curing his tumor is easier than unfavorable tumors. Kahlo’s treatment plan has consisted of surgery to remove the tumor, a second surgery to insert his port for chemotherapy delivery, 6 radiation sessions, and he has completed 6 out of the 24 chemo cycles.
This news has affected not only our immediate family but our whole family. We are staying positive and trying to make this ride as smooth as possible for him.
Camila is so lively, spirited, determined, courageous and much more. A beautiful girly girl who loves to wear dresses, the bigger the better and if it was up to her, she would wear make up every day. She compliments the way I dress and says how she loves my “sparkly eyes” when I wear make up. She loves princesses and her wish is to become a beautiful princess. She loves playing dress up, playing with her dolls, and playing with her older brothers. She’s also a tough cookie as she likes to play wrestling with her brother.
Camila was born a healthy girl. The only thing we noticed that was abnormal was a small bony growth in her left rib that we were able to feel but otherwise unnoticed. I have the same thing. Its called Exostosis and it’s herediary. It’s a benign outgrowth of cartillaginous tissue on a bone. That was it and she was fine for two years. Then one day she started having fevers, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain for days before I took her to her pediatrician two days in a row. That day my daughter had an abdominal ultrasound which revealed a large mass in her abdomen. We rushed her to the hospital where they did further imaging and found out that the mass was coming from the left kidney. She was severely anemic because the left kidney was bleeding so she received multiple blood transfusions. Her blood pressure and heart rate were high and very concerning because the tumor was so big that it was pushing her internal organs.
She was diagnosed March 30th 2016 with wilms tumor and thankfully her prognosis is good. Her cancer is favorable and has a high survival rate. We are hanging on to every inch of that hope. Although her cancer, pathology results, and so far her treatment have all been favorable, it’s still cancer. Malignant cancer that is, and that in itself is a tremendous misfortune and a nightmare to say the least. To see your child suffer and yet you as a parent cannot change anything is beyond painful. Camila was in pain, her vital signs were out of control so her little body was fighting against the cancer, she was thirsty and hungry but was not allowed to drink or eat anything in anticipation of tests and surgery. She was connected to monitors, IV’s, and tubes. It was traumatizing to a 2 year old because she couldn’t understand what was happening to her and why…Childhood cancer affects all aspects of your life. Emotionally, financially, and you questions your spiritual beliefs. But now I’m closer to my faith and my family is closer. I have two other boys and they love their little sister so much… I love how they are with her. They kiss her little bald head, they carry her, play with her, give each other the biggest and tightest hugs and seeing all that brings tears to my eyes and warms my heart.
One thing I am grateful for is that she’s only 3 years old and has no idea what is happening to her. Because she is so young she remains at home where she’s supposed to be. We’re not keeping her from school or friends because he has not developed those relationships yet. She doesn’t question why her hair is gone and she doesn’t care she has no hair. She brings a smile to anyone’s face who meets her.
Talia was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor in June 2014, 2 weeks before her 1st birthday. She had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In April 2015 she relapsed with Wilms spreading into her brain. She had brain surgery, radiation and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. In between her first and second battles, her brother Anthony – who is one year older than Talia, was diagnosed with GanglioNeuroblastoma. He had chemotherapy and surgery and is currently NED. The kids are now 2 and 3 years old. Their 10 year old brother, Vincent, is fine…More than fine – he is an amazing, loving, and a caring big brother.
Hope Session by Novel Etchings Photography LLC. website | facebook
Jackson was diagnosed with stage 2 unfavorable diffuse Wilms’ Tumor in January of this year. He has been fighting hard ever since. Jackson has had his tumor removed, along with one of his kidneys. His treatment plan consisted of a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. He is now in the maintenance phase of this treatment and his first post chemo scan was clear!
Jackson loves monster trucks, superheros and most of all, playing with his big brother Ethan who is 7 and has been by his side the whole time. We have been amazed and thankful for all the amazing people and programs out there like The Gold Hope Project!
Elizabeth is the happiest, silliest little girl you will ever meet. She has always loved life and couldn’t wait to see what each new day would bring. Her laughter, silliness and zest for life are contagious. In April of 2013, six year old Elizabeth was diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms Tumor. As it would for any family, this news crushed her entire family’s life. However, it is Elizabeth’s strong spirit and silliness that has made this nightmarish journey much easier for everyone. She continues to take each day as it comes and looks forward to her frequent trips to the hospital. As you can imagine, she has made friends with her nurses, child life specialists, and doctors.
Elizabeth has bravely faced 19 weeks of chemotherapy, 12 days of radiation therapy, and an extensive surgery to remove the tumor as well as her right kidney. She has become an amazingly strong little girl!
Elizabeth loves staying in contact with her friends at school (even through she can’t go to school right now). She loves My Little Pony, Disney Princesses, playing on the iPad, and playing with her 2 year old sister, Anna! Elizabeth still has 12 more weeks of treatment to endure. During that time we will continue to celebrate each day, thanks to Elizabeth’s precious, fun-loving spirit!
Hope session by Karyn Olsson. 
