Audrey led a very active and happy life
as a 5 years old in 2010. She went trick or treating through the whole
neighbor without skipping any house on Halloween in 2010. She complained
her leg and stomach pain but we dismissed it as Halloween activities.
What we found out ten days later changed our lives forever. Audrey was
diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma. The medical treatment
she received in the next 18 months is something no child should have to
endure. She immediately had a central venous line placed on her chest
that threaded inside the vein to her heart in order to receive the
countless blood transfusions, IV fluids, and treatments to be followed.
After 6 rounds of intensive induction chemotherapy and countless trip to
the emergency room, she had a 5 1Ž2 hours of surgery to remove her
primary tumor. Her tandem transplants were perhaps the hardest part of
her treatment. There were a time her temperature was around108-109 and
heart beat was around 220. By the miracle of God she did turn around and
recovered. The next 8 months she finished the protocol with radiation
and Antibodies treatment and is declared NED(no evidence of disease).
Unfortunately, we found out Audrey relapsed during her routine scan on
May 29th, 2013. There is very few treatment options for relapse
Neuroblastoma patients. She is currently enrolled in a phase 1 trial at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. When Audrey was born,
Ben and I held her in our arms and we both felt a sense of joy. We
decided that her middle name should be Joy. Audrey is a true Joy to us
and anyone who knows her. Audrey lost a significant part of her hearing
due to the intensive chemotherapy and requires continuing physical
therapy. Her love of life and her determination to win the fight against
cancer is a true inspiration to us all. Today she continues her fight
against this horrible disease. We need to find a cure and a less harsh
medical treatment for this terrible disease.
Audrey's carepage: http://www.carepages.com/
Hope session by Lisa Phillipson Photography - Newborn, Child and Family Photography
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