Sadie is a little bossy girl! She has a lot of love for her big brother Cameron. She loves hatchimals and playing with her dolls. She loves swimming and going to the zoo. Her favorite thing to do in the summer is to feed the giraffes. 

Sadie was diagnosed with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma at just two years old. It was hard to communicate with a 2-year-old. Sadie was at full-time daycare, and her teacher would say she is complaining a lot of her belly hurting and just wanting to snuggle most of the day. At home, she had a bowel movement, and the tumor bulged outside of her vagina. We went to urgent care and the tumor had already gone back up inside of her body. The doctors thought it was urethral prolapse, and they sent us to urology. The event happened 3 more times before a diagnosis was discovered. 

A few days later Sadie had a biopsy and port placed in her chest. The biopsy showed Sadie had an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumor. Luckily the cancer was seen only in the vaginal area so it was not metastatic. They removed an ovary for freezing because they could not guarantee she would be able to have children after all if her treatment.

I would say Sadie’s big brother is her best supporter. When she is in pain, he lays with her and rubs her back and legs, and tells her she is going to be ok. He helps to distract from the pain.

Emotionally the processing this is draining. My husband and I luckily have a wonderful family support. My husband works full time and is able to use FMLA when needed, and I am now working 4 days a week instead of 5. My sisters and sister in law help to take Sadie to chemo during the week on their days off. My mom is committed to caring for Sadie every Friday. Other family members fill in when needed. We are very blessed with the support we have.

I never thought I would have to experience watching my own daughter fight this fight. she is strong, and beautiful and brave and I know in my heart she will beat this.

Hope session by Erica Finnan Photography | Facebook | Instagram