Meet Westin - Wilms Tumor - The Gold Hope Project

Westin is SO funny and goofy! He loves being outside and trying to be like his big brother.

I took Westin (10 months) to the Sanford ER Sunday night July 28th, 2019 as he hadn’t been sleeping well so woke up at 11 pm to give him medicine. I went to change his diaper and his right abdomen area was rock hard and he had slightly labored breathing. After the ultrasound, CT scan, X-ray, and other tests we were moved to inpatient on the Pediatric floor. Westin had what they thought to be a Wilms tumor. Dustin arrived after getting Jackson (6 yrs old) to daycare. We met with the Pediatric Oncology team Monday morning July 29th to schedule surgery. Westin had to be intubated having another CT scan and other tests that afternoon to see more in-depth what they were dealing with. He was such a trooper! He had surgery Tuesday afternoon July 30th to remove the tumor along with his right kidney. All went well! The specimens were sent to Mayo pathology to figure out what stage and if treatment was needed. He spent a week in the hospital.

On Friday, August 9th, 2019 we received the phone call that Westin did have Wilms Tumor and it was Stage 1. On Monday, August 12th we were informed that Westin would in fact have to complete 22 weeks of chemotherapy. He had his port placement and received two different chemo medications throughout his 22-week treatment plan. Some of the struggles were keeping the family balance – work balance – financial balance with all of the appointments, treatments and unexpected hospital stays.

Westin’s cancer diagnosis has changed our family life in many ways. Living with the constant stress that he could get sick again but trying to be happy that he is done with treatment and has gotten the news that the cancer is gone.

We couldn’t have gone through this journey without the help from our friends, family and community!