Case's cancer journey began on January 30, 2017 with trip to the pediatrician because the left side of his face was slightly swollen. He was only 15 months old. The doctor assumed that a salivary gland that was most likely clogged and would resolve itself with the help of steroids and antibiotics. After eight days on the medications we saw no improvements and took Case to and ear nose and throat doctor. He looked at Case for about thirty seconds and referred us to a pediatric ENT. Thankfully, he also scheduled a CT scan. Case's first CT was on February 13th, 2017 and it is a day that I will never forget. On our way home from the hospital we received a call from the doctor saying that Case had a 4cm mass in his jaw bone.
That phone call changed our lives forever. Over the next month we watched the tumor grow to over 7cm while waiting for biopsy results and a diagnosis. They never came. On March 10, 2017 Case received the first of 16 rounds of chemotherapy because the tumor was growing so rapidly. By April we were told that he would be treated with the Ewing’s Sarcoma protocol but that his cancer could not be matched to any known diseases. Without a diagnosis we were not given a prognosis. We had no idea what laid ahead.
Case had his tumor removed with perfect margins in July. Two of his ribs were used to reconstruct the 2/3 of his mandible that were engulfed by the tumor. He finished his chemo on January 7th, 2018 and his cancer-free life began on January 22, 2018!
Case is now thriving and our family is trying to cherish everything we used to take for granted.
Case’s story is not unique. Sadly there are children that will be diagnosed today, tomorrow and every day after. And there are countless more that are like Case, survivors. But they too need your help. Many survivors suffer side effects for the rest of their lives. Every child needs treatments that cure their diseases without so many side effects.
Please help support the cures that these children need!
