Liam's cancer journey unknowingly began at age 3. We noticed a bruise under his left arm that popped out of nowhere from one day to another. We took him to his pediatrician for an exam because at the same time we noticed the bruise, Liam started to complain about his arm hurting and he could barely raise it up to his shoulders. We thought he might have somehow injured that area and have a fracture. We took him to 2 different hospitals for x-rays and both showed no signs of a fracture. Labs were taken and preliminary results showed no sign of cancer cells but did test positive for the Epstein Bar Virus or the "kissing disease". The ER department recommended to follow up with his pediatrician and we did. The results left her dumbfounded as much as it did us. She scheduled us for a follow up appointment the next month to check on his progress as the virus should go away on its own. So we waited, the symptoms only got worse. He started napping more often than usual and it was a constant struggle to get him to eat (which is normal with kids his age). He started having nightly sweats along with constant headaches. Around mid October is when we noticed that he developed a lump on the left side of his neck. It started small and only noticeable in certain angles but it was there. It would swell and then go down.
Over the course of 4 months, the lump considerably grew to the point where it was very noticeable. During these 4 months, it was constant doctor visits with his pediatrician until we were able to secure an appointment with an infectious disease specialist. During this time, Liam had A LOT of blood work done for a child that just turned 4 years old. The specialist ordered labs for everything that he could think of within the scope of Liam's symptoms and previous blood work that had been done before we started seeing him. After the first set of labs came back clear, he told us that we might have a conversation about cancer being a possibility depending on the next set of lab work. He wanted to give us a heads up and mentally prepare ourselves.
We had to put a pause on the next set of blood work because Liam got sick and that would alter lab results. So we waited but within that time frame Liam started limping during lunch time on a Friday and we noticed another lump but on the left side of his pelvic area. We called the specialist's office for advice and were given an appointment to go in on Monday for an evaluation but if things progressed we were to take him straight to the ER. We didn't make that appointment. Saturday morning, Liam's limping got worse and his dad took him to the ER while I stayed home with his baby sister. He was immediately admitted and more profound blood work was ordered.
From there, everything spiraled. Cancer was now part of our vocabulary and fear took a hold. Within that week at the hospital, Liam got moved to the oncology floor, his IV had to be repositioned 4 times, a biopsy of his lump was ordered along with a lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy. Now it was a waiting period for the biopsies to happen and results to come in. During the time he was under anesthesia for all 3 biopsies, a PICC line was inserted into Liam's left arm. The PICC line would serve as his IV and chemo port. As a mom with no medical training, I had to learn terms and procedures that no mom of a child should have to know. I had to learn how to care for a child with cancer, how to clean, flush, and maintain his PICC line clear everyday, administer his daily medication that included 4 different types of meds at varying times. I became a personal nurse for my son. It was a day to day worry that his PICC line had to remain clean and in position as any type of bacteria/infection could cause a life threatening event. This central line ran up his left arm and all the way up to a vein near his heart.
Results came back and he was officially diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma of multiples regions Stage 3. CT scans showed swollen lymph nodes on both sides of his neck, his chest area, and his pelvic area. After diagnosis, Liam under went 10 days of steroids and it was one of the toughest times for us as parents but more for Liam as he struggled to understand what was going on and his mood would change constantly. He had to learn very quickly how to verbally express how he was feeling to all his nurses and doctors. His first round of chemo was tough but he pulled through and remained an extra day in the hospital for extra hydration and observation of chemo symptoms.
After a month in the hospital, we were able to go home before his next round of chemo. He had 6 rounds of chemotherapy and it was the longest 6 months of our lives. The ups and downs of his health, the side effects, weekly oncology appointments that were 2x per week, and CBC counts 2x a week, etc, etc...
Now a little over a year that he finished chemo, Liam had a PET/CT Scan done that covered his head all the way to his knees. Thanks be to GOD and everyone's prayers that there is no evidence of disease. Liam has a follow up appointment in October for lab work and another CT Scan 3 months from then. Your continuous prayers are welcome and deeply appreciated. From my family to yours: May GOD bless you and your family.
Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure.
