Today is September 9th – the 9th day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Today I want to honor Samantha Arnett. One day in the spring of 2009, when Lily was in the hospital because of a fever, I was in the 6th floor waiting room of Vandy’s Children’s Hospital waiting for my turn to visit. Only two visitors were allowed in a child’s room at a time. Into the waiting room came the most charming little girl and some members of her family. It was hard to tear my eyes away from her because she was so bubbly – beautiful eyes, engaging smile, and a sparkly voice. That little girl was Samantha Arnett, she was 2/12 years old, and she’d recently had surgery to remove a PNET brain tumor (primitive neuroectodermal tumor). After her family and I talked for a bit, we exchanged CaringBridge sites, and I followed Samantha’s CB updates from then on. PNETs occur in the cerebrum. Samantha’s surgery to remove the tumor was in February 2009, and she began chemo in March. Samantha had all the nurses wrapped around her little finger. One nurse played a game with her that when he was finished with whatever he had to do in her room, Samantha would puff up her cheeks and blow him out of the room. He played along, and she loved it. Many months later, when she happened to see him in the hospital elevator, she remembered the game and blew him right out of the elevator, too. That’s the kind of person she was – always connecting with people and full of good-natured fun. Samantha finished her chemo in September, but an MRI in late October 2009 showed that the tumor was still there along with some spots on her spine. So she began radiation - daily radiation, Monday through Friday, for six weeks. Since she was so young, she was put to sleep for each radiation treatment. In February 2010, Samantha and her parents, Tammy and Shane, were able to go to Disneyworld for her Make A Wish trip. They stayed at the Give Kids the World Village. Samantha loved every minute of the trip – especially meeting all the princesses. Samantha had a great sense of humor. Tammy wrote about the time she lost money in a vending machine trying to get some chocolate milk for Samantha: “I told her I couldnt get it because the machine took my money and didnt give me the milk. She looked at me and asked if I said please. I asked if I was supposed to use my manners with the machine and she said yes. So, I didnt get the chocolate milk because I didnt use my manners. I will do better next time. Manners are very important. ☺” The radiation held the tumor at bay for awhile, but then in July 2010 – just a few days after her 4th birthday - another MRI showed that the tumor had grown, and the doctors told Tammy and Shane that there was nothing more they could do for Samantha. They sent her home on hospice, hoping that a low dose of daily chemo given at home would buy a little more time for them to enjoy their little girl. And they did. They made sure she did things she enjoyed doing. They went bumper-car riding. She got a Chihuahua puppy, and they had tea parties. They stayed at a mountain retreat in Pigeon Forge and went to Dollywood and visited an aquarium. Most importantly, they spent lots of time with friends and family. Samantha loved Tinkerbell. So they set up a Tinkerbell tent in her bedroom. The tent fit over her bed, and that was where she was the happiest. Shane and Tammy would get in the tent with her – day or night - to play games and read together. Samantha died on September 9, 2010 at the age of 4. That was four years ago today. Tammy wrote the following after Samantha’s death, “I think a lot of people are afraid to call or come by. They dont know what to say. Hello is always a great start. I still love to talk about Samantha. We always say something about her everyday. She was hilarious. I know the biggest thing I will miss about her is how much she loved me and others. I miss her saying, ‘You’re a good mommy,’ and how freely she gave me kisses and hugs.” We all miss you, Samantha.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:32:43 +0000
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