In January 2019, a large tumor about the size of a grapefruit was found in twenty-one month old Audrey's abdomen. Eight days later, Audrey was placed on a ventilator in a medically-induced coma that lasted for 20 days. During this time, Audrey was diagnosed with a rare bleeding presentation of stage IV high risk neuroblastoma. We were told that there was not much long term data on children diagnosed with neuroblastoma who present with a bleeding tumor. In those early weeks, Audrey underwent multiple emergency procedures, most of which were not part of the normal high risk neuroblastoma treatment protocol. Audrey spent the first two months straight in the hospital.
Once Audrey stabilized, she went on to receive 5 cycles of chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant, 12 cycles of radiation, and 6 cycles of immunotherapy for a total of 15 months of treatment. We are forever grateful to the nurses and doctors at Rady's Children Hospital of San Diego for their willingness to go above and beyond to treat our daughter and help save her life in those first days after the tumor was found, and for their continued amazing care.
Audrey is currently participating in a two year DFMO maintenance trial that is sponsored by Beat Childhood Cancer. After 15 months of some of the harshest cancer treatments that exist in both pediatric and adult cancer worlds, we are thankful that DFMO is a kinder, less toxic, and potentially incredibly effective treatment. We want to support the research that is being done and has already been done by Beat Childhood Cancer.
Please join us in supporting this research. For Audrey. For all the neuroblastoma warriors, past present and future.
