‘Facing the Bridge’: Late Effects of Grace’s Childhood Cancer Treatment
For brain tumor survivors like Ambassador Grace, who has been cancer free for over six years, the road to recovery is long and riddled with challenges. Her mom, Rebekah, four-time shavee℠ and member of the 46 Mommas Leadership Team, shares their latest dilemma.
We would like her to be in a place where her strengths can be challenged and her challenges supported. We would like classmates to be excited to see her each day. We would like her to be happy and to keep believing the sky’s the limit.
We know that’s a tall order for middle school.
Meet Grace
Grace came into this world 14 weeks early and weighing only 2 pounds. After months of special medical care, her parents had hoped their hospitals days were over. Then, when she was 5, Grace began to experience intense headaches that were often followed by spells of vomiting. She was diagnosed with medulloblastoma just a few weeks into kindergarten. She underwent surgery to remove the brain tumor, followed by high-intensity proton beam radiation and nine months of chemotherapy.
Another Christmas With Grace
Grace’s mom, Rebekah, remembers Christmas 2007 when Grace was in treatment for childhood cancer.
Three months earlier, in September 2007, doctors were performing surgery to remove a four centimeter mass from my daughter’s brain. Medulloblastoma. She was 5. I had to remind myself to breathe.
By October, we were back and forth from Providence to Boston so that Grace could receive proton beam radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Grace had recovered well from surgery, and we took that as a good sign for the next phase of treatment. But then the radiologists surprised us with the news that Grace’s tumor had regrown faster than anyone expected. Her cancer was reclassified as high risk.
Update on Ambassador Pietro: Conquering Cancer, Conquering Mountains [PHOTO ESSAY]
2011 Ambassador Pietro when he was in treatment for brain cancer.
Now in remission, Pietro is in high school and continues to excel academically while keeping busy with extracurricular activities, including robotics, band, and the debate team. He’ll be learning to drive soon, much to the relief of his parents, who currently shuttle him to and from activities.
Despite all his accomplishments, childhood cancer and its treatments were not without their consequences. Pietro often felt tired, and the persistent fatigue prevented him from participating in one of his favorite activities: skiing.
Heroes for Hannah: Cayman Islands Community Comes Together to Cure Childhood Cancer
Hannah with her parents, Nigel and Gaylene. Hannah is 6 years old and battling anaplastic medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
With Child, Without Hair: A 46 Momma (and Mom-to-Be) Shaves for the Fourth Time
Rebekah with her daughter, Grace, after shaving with the 46 Mommas to raise money for pediatric oncology research. Grace was diagnosed with medulloblastoma when she was 5 years old.
Knocked up and bald.
That’ll be me this month when I shave as a 46 Momma for the fourth time.
I shaved in LA in 2010, then in DC in 2011, and back in LA in 2012 — in honor of my 11-year-old daughter, Grace, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, in 2007.
Grace is thriving. She copes with the many complex side effects of the cancer treatment, some days better than others. Her newest therapy — daily hormone shots to (we hope) allow her to grow to a normal adult height without additional side effects — is the lowlight of her day.
Grace has been with me at each shave. She and her sister Fiona, 15, have been supportive of the shaving zaniness. They understand the need for awareness, the value of funding research for better treatments, and, of course, how cool a shaved head feels.
Have Faith, Be Strong: One Family’s Childhood Cancer Story
This is the story of a family who faced the unthinkable and how they have stayed together through it all to embrace a family motto, “Have Faith, Be Strong.”
Jennifer Thayer tells her family’s story.
Breanna was always strong. Strong and positive. Here was my beautiful girl — my girl who loved to dance, who couldn’t wait to start kindergarten, who loved to be the boss of her three brothers — stuck in this icky place. She didn’t know how sick she was, and she didn’t act sick. “Mommy, don’t cry,” she said.
Funding Research Today to Save Lives Tomorrow
Frank with the Iowa Chrome Domes
As the person who introduced St. Baldrick’s to the state of Iowa in 2006, I felt it was important to lead by example and be a shavee. I was familiar with St Baldrick’s from my New York days and knew that the generous people of Iowa would be great supporters once they became familiar with the history, economics and mission of St Baldrick’s.
My motivation at that point was supporting the great things St. Baldrick’s was doing to help children stricken unfairly by the ravages of cancer. A couple of years later it became personal when my nephew, Chris, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma.
Andrew’s Children’s Cancer Story: 4 Years Ago to Today
Four years post diagnosis, Brittany, mother to Andrew, reflects on her son’s journey with children’s cancer, recalling details about the harsh treatments, and celebrating where he is today, learning to overcome challenges he faces as a cancer survivor.
Immunotherapy: The Future of Childhood Cancer Treatment
Dr. Alex Huang, a St. Baldrick’s Scholar, is studying immunotherapy as a safer treatment option for children with osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Read how he’s using his research — and his bald head — to help kids with cancer.
Dr. Alex Huang with Team Rainbow.
On March 9, I had my head shaved at the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. (2012 Ambassador Austin also attended the head-shaving event.) This was my fourth year as a shavee℠ and member of my hospital’s team, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, where I am the Director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program.
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