Meet Superstar Survivor Peyton Stratton. Her mom, Jenn, shares the story. Thank you, Jenn. 2008 was supposed to be a great year... My oldest was in first grade, my daughter was turning three and my baby was born in February.... The perfect family .... No one prepares you for what happened to us that Tuesday in August 2008!! My then 3 1/2 year old was sick not keeping anything down and had been losing wt , w my 5 month old in tow we went to the ER . That was the day my world fell down around me.. My daughter had a tumor the size of a baby watermelon on her left kidney . You are not prepared as a mom to hear Im sorry maam but your daughter has cancer and she needs to be immediately transported to either Dartmouth or Albany Medical. That was a Tuesday afternoon.... Then my father and his wife drove us to Albany med where Peyton was admitted under the care of Dr Joanne Porter, a specialist in childrens Kidney Cancer aka Wilms. Peyton would go through tests through Wednesday w a port operation following w her first Chemo on that Thursday;( Our world went very fast from Great to not knowing if we would soon lose our middle child. our oldest would go with my father and the youngest to go with our dear friends. I would stay in the hospital w Peyton for 29 days where I watched my daughter under go chemo and not move she was so sick. This tumor was so large it was pushing on her bladder and stomach creating a banded effect so she could eat nor go to the bathroom and would have to be catheterized. She had 3 transfusions within the first few wks and the fact that we didnt realize she was sick until it was too late, the cancer had spread to both lungs leaving her with 75 Tumors in her little lungs .... We went I to the hospital in August, my youngest wasnt crawling yet.... We came out about a month later my youngest was crawling almost walking all milestones missed and my middle child was struggling to survive and my oldest didnt know which way he was headed. She continued traveling back and forth to Albany med and in October underwent her second surgery this time removing tumor and entire left kidney and a portion of her right lung. The chemo would continue for a year and a half. During that time 16 days of radiation driving daily to Albany med just the two of us. Her entire front was radiated from neck to pubic bone and both side of lungs.... During this time we under went several more transfusions and an allergic reaction to a chemo medication where she nearly died in my arms thankfully at the hospital where she was whisked away from me by a team of medical personnel with me left in the hall staring at a closed door. The things you are never have to go through as a mother nor as a baby. The world is a horrible place at times and we will never know why? But I do know this.... Thanks to a fantastic medical team I have ALL 3 of my babies and my daughter is doing very well!!! Cancer sucks but she is why I relay!!! She is my hero as are all the other survivors and all those that have lost the fight!!!! If youd like to share your survivor story - or share about one of your amazing caregivers, please private message us or send it to Steph at sjjt70@gmail. Wed love to hear from you.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 12:55:19 +0000
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