Becky EvreniadisFollow

Rebecca Evreniadis
James Evreniadis Jr (Jamie), 3 1/2 years old
Neuroblastoma, Diagnosed 01/28/2006, Angel 04/24/2006
Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital



Jamie was a bright active 3 1/2 year old boy. There was not a moment he was not smiling, laughing and running around. So the day that he stopped smiling, laughing and running around we knew something was wrong. He started to complain about his legs hurting and he was limping. We took him to our local hospital where xrays showed nothing. Dr said his bone was bruised from a fall. Two weeks later Jamie was still limping, and now not eating. My husband and I took Jamie to his peds office for a full check up, where they found nothing wrong. This answer was not good enough for me so we got stuff together and Jamie ready and headed to VCH. They started to run test on Jamie, he was admitted. This was the day that our lives forever changed! My smiling happy loveing child, was now being so mean, not understanding why these people were hurting him, his eyes were sad, something we had never seen, he would never be the same child I once knew. All I could think was, this is not happening to my boy, why mine!

For my husband and I Neuroblastoma was such a scary word. More scary was the life time survival rate being less than 25%. We were told little to no research is done on Neuroblastoma, this was devastating! They had chosen to start chemo right away as well be very aggresive since this was an aggressive cancer. So here it starts on Feb 3,2006. Jamie was doing very well, handleing his treatment and all that comes with it. (blood,biopsie,scans,platlets, etc) Not long after Jamie had an allergic reaction to Doxirubicin, causing his heart to fill with fluid, we were told we need time to find new treatment. Jamie did not have much time. Seemed like forever, yet just a few days later they came up with a new chemo for Jamie called Topotecan. This was working wonderfully. Shrank his main tumor by 60% after only one round! We had hope again!

After several rounds of chemo, stem cell collection and so much more, we were all smiling again. Our baby was beating this demon! All the small print side effects Jamie witnessed and over came ever obstacle, he can handle anything!

On April 24th, 2006 Jamie was struggling to breathe. He was soon transferred to the PICU, where he later passed away. I am shaving my head in memory of Jamie as well as in honor of all the children fighting today and the ones who will be diagnosed tomorrow. If there was more funding as well as awareness these harsh treatments may not be so harsh. I have come to realize that yes cancer is deadly, but treatment is just as deadly! Before Jamie was diagnosed I knew very little about Childhood Cancer, this is shameful, it is reality and we all should get involved. My goal through shaving my head with the 46 mommas is to find better treatments and start to save these kids lives. This is unrealistic if I were to take it on alone, yet with your help and you spreading the word it can and will become a reality!

Please, start sharing my story as well as all the others, so that you too can help to save a life. My son being taken away from me saddens me daily, no mother should have to endure this. I am so thankful for all of the mommas willing to shave their heads to make others aware that these kids need us! Conquer Kids Cancer! Jamie was, is and always will be my HERO! I could not save him so please help me in the fight to save the others!