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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
CHILDHOOD CANCER
the north platte telegraph
Davies family rejoices in remission Offering support for brave, young fighters By diane wetzel | dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
Childhood cancers make up less than 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed every year. Still, each time a child living in the United States is diagnosed with cancer, a community feels heartbreak. About 11,630 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Because of major advances in treatment, more than 80 percent of children with cancer will survive five years or more. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to show support for children and their families who are battling cancer. The American Childhood Cancer Organization — acco.org — points out that while the survival rate for childhood cancer has increased drastically, survival comes with a cost. “Two-thirds of those who survive face at lease one chronic health condition,” the ACCO reports. “It is becoming increasingly apparent that childhood cancer is for life.” Late-effects of treatment can include heart damage, second cancers, lung damage, infertility, cognitive impairment, growth deficits, hearing loss and more. The types of cancer that develop in children are often different from those in adults. Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that happen very early in life, sometimes even before birth. Unlike many cancers in adults, childhood cancers are not linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors, the ACS reports. On Aug. 30, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring September National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. “Every September, America renews our commitment to curing childhood cancer,” the president said. “And we offer our support to the brave young people who are fighting this disease.” All children deserve a chance to dream, discover and realize their full potential, the president said. “This month, we extend our support to young people fighting for that opportunity and we recognize all who commit themselves to advancing the journey toward a cancer-free world.”
3-year-old Justin is cancer free after year-long battle By Andrew Bottrell abottrell@nptelegraph.com
Justin Davies is just 3 years old and while he’s currently cancer free, recovery will still be a long road. Justin is the son of Lee and Kim Davies, of North Platte. At age 2, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of leukemia characterized by excess immature white blood cells in the bone marrow. He first showed symptoms in January 2012 when his parents said he seemed run down. They thought it was normal for a 2-year-old and they initially gave him some cold medicine. He was better for a few weeks. In March, during a family trip to the North Platte Area Children’s Museum, Justin fell and landed on his hip. The next weekend, at the state basketball tournament in Lincoln, he continued to complain about pain in his hip, so when the family returned home, they took Justin to the doctor. “He got better the next week,” Lee said. “He still looked pale, though.” A week later, when another of their children went in for a checkup, the nurse noticed Justin looked pale. The family doctor ordered blood work. The blood tests revealed Justin’s hemoglobin level had dropped to 3. “He was pretty sick,” Lee said. On March 20, 2012, the family rushed Justin to Children’s Hospital in Denver where he was diagnosed with ALL and he immediately began receiving blood transfusions. He started chemotherapy shortly after, and the family spent almost a month in Denver as Justin began treatment. Doctors also prescribed a regimen of steroids, which he will have to continue for several years. The Ronald McDonald House granted the family a room, but they weren’t far from Justin’s side most of the time. “One of us would stay the night. Quite a few nights, we both stayed
Courtesy photo
The Davies family, clockwise from bottom left: Justin, Makenzie, Lee, Kim, Alex, Josh and Karlie. Justin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma in March 2012 at the age of 2.
Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma younger than 35 and chiefly affects (ALL) is a cancer that starts from children. It is the most common white blood cells called lymphocancer to affect children between cytes in the bone marrow. the ages of 1 and 7. ALL is a rare cancer that affects For children under 5, the survival the blood cells and the immune rate offered by the National Cancer system. It mainly occurs in people Institute is almost 91 percent. — Source: cancer.org the night,” Lee said. After the first month, the family was able to return home, but they traveled to Denver often for blood transfusions, steroid treatments and chemotherapy. “That first part was very hard,” Kim said. “That first year, we were in Denver once a week.” The family still has to make trips to Denver for checkups and will continue to do so for some time. They also have to monitor Justin’s health. “If he gets sick or gets a fever, we have to go to Denver,” Kim said. “It’s just maintenancing and maintenancing.” After a year, in March 2013, the cancer was in remission. Justin is now considered cancer-free but he will continue to take steroids and
other medications for the next 10 years. His parents said doctors have told them if Justin makes it to fifth grade without the cancer returning, he will be fully healed. Justin’s young age, Kim said, has been helpful. “That’s the advantage, he has no idea. He knows it’s leukemia,” she said. Kim said his energy levels go up and down, often as a result of the steroid treatments, but his hair has grown back and for the most part he’s back to being a normal 3-year-old. “He’s doing pretty good,” Kim said. “He’s cancer free. He’s in remission. They don’t consider him cured for 10 years, though, and there’s a possibility that it could come back.”
the north platte telegraph
CHILDHOOD CANCER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
D3
Cancer free but carrying reminders By Heather Johnson hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
Excitement, joy, gratitude — all are common emotions following the birth of a new baby. Scott and Kris Pearson experienced them when their first son, Jeff, was born on March 25, 1998. Unfortunately, their elation didn’t last long. Feelings of happiness and gratitude morphed into devastation and fear a mere five days later when baby Jeff was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. “There had been no indication during the pregnancy that anything was wrong,” Kris said. “I had an ultrasound done, but it was at around five months so Jeff was pretty small. That’s probably why nothing showed up.” Courtesy photo The Pearsons currently Jeff Pearson, shown here at 4 months old, was sent reside in North Platte, home from Denver with a central line in his chest and an but they lived in ChadIV that went directly into his heart. The central line pre- ron when Jeff was born. He arrived seemingly vented him from rolling over. healthy, weighing in at almost 9.5 pounds. The Pearsons were reNeuroblastoma leased from the hospital Neuroblastoma is a in sympathetic nerve on schedule and agreed to form of cancer that starts ganglia in the abdomen. let a home health nurse in certain types of very Most of the rest start in conduct a routine visit a early forms of nerve cells sympathetic ganglia near few days later. It was that found in an embryo or the spine in the chest or nurse who noticed Jeff fetus. This type of cancer neck or in the pelvis. was breathing fast — an occurs in infants and Survival rates are deissue that had just begun. young children, rarely in pendent upon additional The nurse called the children older than 10. risk factors, with five-year Pearson’s doctor, conA little more than 1 out survival ranging from cerned the baby might of 3 neuroblastomas start 95 percent for low-risk have a heart defect. The in the adrenal glands. patients to around 30-50 doctor wasn’t overly worAbout 1 out of 4 begin for higher-risk groups. ried but ordered a chest x-ray at his office just in — Source: cancer.org case.
Pearsons still consider themselves lucky, despite son’s rocky start 15 years ago Then he requested a second one, followed by a third at the hospital. All indicated a mass in the newborn’s chest. The Pearsons were advised to travel 90 miles to the Rapid City Medical Center in Rapid City, S.D., for a CAT scan. Results showed the mass was a tumor. “It wrapped around Jeff’s heart, was pushing on his lungs and had started to grow into his spine,” Kris said. “He was life-flighted to Denver to see the Childhood Hematology Oncology Associates group at Presbyterian St. Luke’s.” At St. Luke’s, Jeff underwent blood tests, urine collection via a catheter, MRIs, x-rays and a bone scan. Afterward, doctors diagnosed the tumor as a Stage 3 neuroblastoma. “It’s a cancer of the nervous system. Instead of becoming nerve endings, his cells had formed a tumor,” Kris said. “I was numb. I racked my brain for what I could have done when I was pregnant that might have caused the problem.” Jeff was poked with needles repeatedly because his tiny veins kept collapsing, and his skin came off in layers when antibacterial discs for a
never did sleep through the night. He would have bone pain and would cry when I moved him. He couldn’t roll over because he had a tube sticking out of his chest.” central line were placed When he was 4 months on his chest. He wasn’t old, another surgery was allowed to nurse because performed to try to rehe had to wait on surgery. move more of the tumor. “They ended up doing That time, almost all surgery when he was of it was taken out. The 8 days old,” Kris said. procedure was followed “But they could only get by another four rounds of 25 percent of the tumor chemo for a total of eight. because of the way it was When he was 8 months going into his spinal colold, tests revealed the umn. His bones were too cancer was gone. The thin for a bone marrow news wasn’t as reasbiopsy, so they took a suring as the Pearsons piece off his hip. It took thought it would be. about a week to get him “The hospital was our off the ventilator.” comfort,” Kris said. “As Jeff was sent home with long as we were going a central line that went there, we felt like we had directly into his heart. a safety net. To walk It allowed him to receive away and not have that, it IV fluids without being was scary.” poked numerous times. Now 15, Jeff remains “He grabbed it once and cancer free, but carries yanked it,” Kris said. “He reminders of his ordeal had to have two differwith him. He is unable to ent ones. The first quit hear high-pitched sounds working.” and overheats easily, Jeff began chemothermaking it difficult to play apy treatments when he some sports. He still has was not quite a month problems eating. old. They were scheduled “Jeff didn’t eat solid every three weeks in Den- foods until he was more ver, and Jeff lost all his than a year old,” Kris hair as a result of them. said. “It was a texture Kris would pick him up issue — some things just out of his crib and find a made him gag. It took pile of hair left behind on him two years to hit 20 the mattress. It was just pounds.” the beginning. Despite the effects, the “The side effects made Pearsons consider themhim throw up,” Kris said. selves lucky. “He was given Benedryl “We’re just grateful we by the doctors to help still have our child,” Kris him sleep through the said. “Not everyone can worst of the nausea. He say that.”
Faith helps sustain teen through 109 days in hospital Makenna Wallin: ‘Life is all about perspective’ By diane wetzel dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
Makenna Wallin has always been a go-getter. Then last winter, she seemed to lose her spark. “She hadn’t been feeling well for several weeks,” said her mother, Marilee. “We thought she was run down, that all the early mornings and late nights were catching up with her.” The 15-year old sophomore at Chase County High School in Imperial had been active in sports and school activities. “She started having trouble breathing in basketball practice,” her mother said. “The doctor thought it was exercise-induced asthma but the inhaler didn’t help.” Within a week, Makenna was so pale, she was “green looking,” her mother said. “She was so tired. That just wasn’t her. She was always up and ready to go. I had been looking on the Internet and knew leukemia was a possibility, but I kept telling myself there was a low chance of it being that.” On Dec. 10, 2012, a trip to the doctor revealed that Makenna’s hemoglobin was 5.5.
“It’s supposed to be 13 to 14 for a teenage girl,” Merilee said. “The nurse told us that most people can’t get out of bed with a count like that.” They called Children’s Hospital in Denver and Makenna was on her way that same day, Makenna was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. “It’s a blood cancer where the white blood cells were taking over the red cells,” Merilee said. “It was very intense treatment but very short. She had four rounds of chemotherapy where she would get the drugs daily for about 10 days.” Each round of chemo meant a month’s stay in the hospital, Merilee said. “What the drugs did was completely kill her immune system,” she said. “She would have to stay in the hospital until her immune system recovered. Then we would bring her home for a week to 10 days.” Makenna spent a total of 109 days in the hospital. All her hair fell out. “She would go anywhere without a hat,” Merilee said. “It didn’t seem to bother her at all.” Makenna’s friends and the community of Impe-
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rial rallied to help the family during treatments. “She designed the ‘Team Makenna’ T-shirts and her friends help sell them, and they sold ‘Team Makenna’ bracelets,” Marilee said. “People brought in meals, which really helped my husband and the boys.” The Wallin’s have three sons is addition to Makenna. Makenna’s faith in God, family and community have helped sustain her during her illness. “One of the most important things I learned is that life is all about perspective,” Makenna said. “You could say, ‘Oh, I felt bad for that girl who had leukemia,’ but I like to say, ‘Man, am I blessed.’ I’ve been out of the hospital for four months now and my hair has
Makenna Wallin, 16, of Imperial, is back in school and celebrating remission after treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. She spent several weeks in Children’s Hospital in Denver through her sophomore year of high school.
Acute myeloid leukemia About 14,590 new cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are expected to be diagnosed in 2013. Most will be in adults. Acute myeloid leukemia is generally a disease of older people and is uncommon before the age of 45. The average age of a patient with AML is about 66 years. Induction chemotherapy is successful in about 65 percent of all acute myeloid leukemia patients. — Source: cancer.org
Courtesy photo
grown quite a bit. I have a lot of people petting my head during the day. I’m getting used to it now.” Makenna is enjoying her junior year in school
and is back to playing sports and doing the activities she loves, Merilee said. “It all happened so fast and we went through it so
fast,” Merilee said. “Something like this shows you what you are made of, especially when it comes to our daughter. She has been remarkable.”
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CHILDHOOD CANCER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
the north platte telegraph
Team Jack becomes a household name across the state
Pediatric brain cancer
With Husker connection, young brain cancer patient becomes national sensation By Andrew Bottrell | abottrell@nptelegraph.com
Jack Hoffman captured the hearts of Nebraskans in 2011 and 2012 as Husker running back Rex Burkhead took Jack and his Team Jack Foundation under his wing. In 2013, Jack Hoffman has captured the hearts of the entire nation. A Husker fan all his life, Jack is the son of Bri and Andy Hoffman, of Atkinson. In April 2011, doctors found a mass in the left temporal lobe of Jack’s brain. During the first operation, doctors were only able to remove a portion of the tumor. After consulting with pediatric neurosurgeon Liliana Goumnerova at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Jack’s second brain surgery on Oct. 10, 2011, removed 95 percent of the tumor. Before that second surgery, Jack visited Lincoln and met his favorite Husker, Rex Burkhead, in September 2011. During the 2011 season, Burkhead wore a wristband with the words “Team Jack—Pray,” and in January 2012 the Hoffman family teamed with CureSearch
for Children’s Cancer to start the Team Jack Legacy Fund. In the winter of 2013 the family started the Team Jack Foundation. All proceeds donated to the foundation go to pediatric brain cancer research. On April 7, 2013, Husker coach Bo Pelini suited Jack up and sent him out onto the field for the final play of the annual Nebraska Spring Game scrimmage. The 1 minute, 11 second YouTube video of Jack taking a handoff from quarterback Taylor Martinez and running around the right end for a touchdown with the entire Husker team in tow instantly went viral. Later that month, Jack won the ESPY for “Best Sports Moment” at the annual awards ceremony hosted by ESPN in Los Angeles. He also got to visit with President Barack Obama. The Team Jack effort has since gone national.
Team Jack All Stars Six professional athletes
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Jack Hoffman high-fives Husker Head Coach Bo Pelini after running for a touchdown during the Nebraska Spring Game on April 6. His moment of glory earned him an ESPY for “Best Sports Moment”
have lent their help to the Team Jack cause. Each athlete has a unique T-shirt, with all the proceeds going to the Team Jack Foundation. Two-time Harlan Hill Trophy winner and North Platte native Danny Woodhead introduced his Team Jack shirt this summer. He joins former Huskers Rex Burkhead, Ndamukong Suh, Lindsey Moore, Alex Gordon and Jared Crick, as well as head football coach Bo Pelini. To order Team Jack All Stars T-shirts, go online to teamjackfoundation.com/AllStars.
Go Gold In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Team Jack is encouraging people to “Go Gold” with the officially collegiate licensed Nebraska Childhood Cancer Awareness
T-shirt available at teamjackfoundation.com. The hope is that Husker fans will wear the gold shirts at the Sept. 21 game against South Dakota State. That game has been designated the 2013 Uplifting Athlete’s Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Game, in honor of childhood cancer awareness month.
Awareness Day On Sept. 26 in Atkinson, Team Jack will team up with former Huskers Eric Crouch and Matt Davison and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman to host the inaugural National Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day celebration. From 6-10 p.m. at the Atkinson Community Center, there will be cocktails and appetizers, dinner and a live and silent
Having a tumor in the brain is always a very serious matter, but today, more than half of all children diagnosed with a brain tumor will be cured. Tumors are masses of abnormal cells that grow out of control. When these tumors originate in the brain, they can be very complicated to treat because of the delicate surrounding tissue. Brain tumors in children are relatively rare, occurring in only five of every 100,000 children. About 2,200 children and adolescents in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year. Brain tumors are commonly treated with surgery and/or other therapies including chemotherapy and radiation. — Source: dana-farber.org auction with lots of Husker and sports memorabilia and experiences.
Other events The Cornhusker Hotel Block Party begins at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. Proceeds from the event will benefit pediatric brain cancer research. Scheels Sporting Goods in Lincoln will have an afternoon of fun and games for the family, along with food, starting at 4 p.m. on Sept. 13. Members of Team Jack are running the Omaha Marathon on Sept. 22. The team is running in honor of Evan Sharp. For information on all these items and events, go online to teamjackfoundation.com.
NP boy survives Hodgkin’s lymphoma ... twice By Heather Johnson hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
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Dr. Bruce Gordon at the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha hugs Alex Cahill of North Platte. Cahill survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma twice.
Hodgkin lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma cases will occur in the is a type of cancer that U.S. in 2013. Hodgkin starts in white blood cells lymphoma can occur in called lymphocytes, part both children and adults of the body’s immune but is most common in system. early adulthood (ages Hodgkin lymphoma 15 to 40, especially in a can start almost anyperson’s 20s). where. Most often it The one-year relabegins in lymph nodes tive survival rate for all in the upper part of the patients diagnosed with body. The most common Hodgkin lymphoma is sites are in the chest, the about 92 percent; the neck or under the arms. five-year and 10-year The American Cansurvival rates are about cer Society estimates 85 and 80 percent, that about 9,290 new respectively. — Source: cancer.org
Look up the word “courageous” in a dictionary, and you just might find a photo of Alex Cahill. If anyone knows how to be brave in the face of adversity, it’s him. The 15-year-old from North Platte has survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma not once, but twice. Alex was diagnosed with the cancer in January 2008 at the age of 10. His mother, Elizabeth Cahill, was the first to detect a problem. “The lymph nodes in his neck were so swollen,” Elizabeth said. “He looked like he had been lifting weights. I had been working two jobs and hadn’t noticed before. As soon as I did, we went directly to the emergency room. It was on a Thursday.” At Great Plains Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth was told the issue was likely the result of a virus. She was advised to keep an eye on him over the weekend and follow up with his physician four days later — on Monday. Elizabeth decided not to wait. “I went to the doctor the next day,” Elizabeth said. “The doctor came in, looked at Alex and said he was going to order lab work and a CAT scan of his chest and head.” The Cahills were called
back to the physician’s office that evening where they were informed that Alex had several swollen lymph nodes in his chest. “The doctor said he had already talked to [Children’s Hospital and Medical Center] in Omaha, and they had a room waiting for us,” Elizabeth said. “We went that night.” Their stay lasted three weeks. Chemotherapy was started after biopsies revealed that Alex had Stage 2A Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “We went every 21 days for three months to Omaha for treatments,” Elizabeth said. “Then, we started 14 days of radiation.” There were multiple side effects. Alex experienced nausea, vomiting, mouth sores and lost his hair. Despite that, Elizabeth said Alex remained positive and got good news in June 2008. “He had more scans done, and they came back showing he was in remission,” Elizabeth said. “We were thrilled.” But the relief didn’t last. Three months later, Alex returned to Omaha for a checkup and another swollen lymph node was discovered on the left side of his neck. “We were told to ‘watch it,’ ” Elizabeth said. “It gradually got bigger, so by February 2009, we
were forced to go back to Omaha. By that time, the cancer had relapsed and spread to other lymph nodes in his neck.” The news was devastating. “It was tough,” Elizabeth said. “We thought the first bout of chemo was hard to deal with, but the second was worse.” Alex did two months of chemo every eight days, followed by 21 days of radiation. He also underwent a stem cell transplant. The process required a fourmonth stay in Omaha but it paid off. By August 2009, Alex was in remission again. The announcement didn’t bring as much excitement as it had the first time around. “I always had it in the back of my mind that the cancer came back once, and it could do it again,” Elizabeth said. “I worried it would never stay gone.”
But it has stayed gone, so far. Alex returns to Omaha twice a year for screenings just to make sure. Although he doesn’t enjoy the tests, he does appreciate the chance to see the doctors who helped him along his journey. They’ve become good friends. The cancer was slow progressing, but Elizabeth is thankful she sought medical treatment for Alex when she did. Looking back at old photographs, she can see that Alex had a thick neck for quite awhile but it wasn’t until his lymph nodes started sticking out that it caught her attention. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” Elizabeth said. “My advice to other parents who might be going through something like this would be don’t wait. Nine times out of 10, it might be a virus but there’s always that one time when it’s not.”