Rea

Rea and her family are teaming up with Beat Nb through our Because of _____ program. Beat Nb is a national childhood cancer nonprofit which drives research into a cure for neuroblastoma. Learn more of how we are helping to cure childhood cancer.

Rea “SupeRea” Paterson, was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma on April 22, 2014, at 2 years old. She was a seemingly healthy child until she started limping. Scans and biopsies confirmed she had a tennis ball sized tumor on her left adrenal gland. The cancer had metastasized to her left knee, causing a fracture and limp. Rea is a tough and brave warrior, with a spunky personality. She danced and smiled through 15 months of intense treatment, consisting of 6 rounds of chemotherapy, countless surgical procedures, an autologous stem cell transplant, radiation, and 6 cycles of immunotherapy.

On August 6, 2014, Rea underwent surgical resection of her left adrenal gland and primary tumor. On September 19, 2014, Rea’s scans and bone marrow biopsy showed no evidence of disease (NED). Her knee had healed and the limp was gone. On September 26, 2014, the Oncology team at her hospital restaged her as a Complete Response to treatment, or in Complete Remission (CR). Rea is scanned quarterly, and has monthly labs and checkups. In October of 2017, she completed a clinical trial to receive the promising drug, DFMO, and remains cancer free!

Rea is now a healthy 7 year old. She and her family continue to move forward in faith and love. God bless “SupeRea” and all children battling cancer.