Meaghan, 16, “cannot be defined” and likes it that way because she wants to be open to all the possibilities of life. Meaghan is a dreamer with her feet planted solidly on the ground. Her passions include literature, music, dance, science, swimming, and theatre- and she has added advocacy for the cure and care of pediatric cancers to the list of things she is passionate about.
In January of 2017 Meaghan was busy with her studies at the Stone Ridge School in Bethesda, MD, swimming for her high school team, reading every book that Rick Riordan had ever written, preparing to compete at the Irish Dance National Championships, and being with her friends and family (parents Mark and Maura and brothers Christopher, 23 and Brian, 19) when life took a sharp turn.
Meaghan was swimming for Stone Ridge when she noticed that the lymph nodes in her neck were becoming swollen and hard. After a few doctor’s visits, an X-Ray and CT scan, we received a phone call to pack our bags for an indefinite stay and head to the Pediatric Oncology unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital right away. After a series of tests and a biopsy, Meaghan was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, Stage 2A, Bulky.
From February 2017- June 2017 Meaghan underwent chemotherapy (the Stanford V) and radiation, had a completed response and was declared to be in remission in June of 2017.
Unfortunately, CT and PET scans in October of 2017 revealed that her cancer had returned: Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma near her left armpit and collarbone.
Meaghan participated in a pediatric trial at Johns Hopkins that included four 21-day rounds of Immunotherapy with highly targeted chemotherapy to get Meaghan back into remission. On February 9, 2018 Meaghan was admitted to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology Unity for High Dose Chemotherapy (HDCT), and an autologous Stem Cell Transplant.
Meaghan and her family are currently living in temporary housing near Johns Hopkins for 100 days to be just minutes away for any planned or unplanned visits to Johns Hopkins. Meaghan will continue with the immunotherapy and targeted chemotherapy until March 2019.
Meaghan is truly incredible. She has faced this diagnosis head on and has used her “cancer card” to raise awareness of childhood cancer and money (165,00.00) that went to LLS. She has missed out on so much this past year but never complains.
Hope session by Madison James Photography | Facebook | Instagram