9 minute read
Ellie Hudson’s Journey
Ellie Hudson’s Journey
How Ochsner helped to support Ellie and her family through an unimaginable battle with neuroblastoma
By George Menz | Photos: Daymon Gardner
Ellie shares her musical talent in the playroom at the Ochsner Hospital for Children.
Photo: Daymon Gardner
When Eleanor “Ellie” Hudson was nine months old—an age when most children are beginning to crawl for the first time— she developed a sinus infection that she couldn’t shake. Her parents were unsure whether this type of prolonged sickness was common in newborns with Ellie being their first child. Without hesitation, they took Ellie to the Ochsner Hospital for Children to learn more.
“I can remember exactly what the room looked like when the surgeon came in,” said Kelly Hudson, Ellie’s mother. “I can tell you exactly what the surgeon looked like, how she was standing.”
The surgeon delivered news that every parent dreads. Ellie had a tumor. Further tests revealed that her tumor was malignant and cancerous: neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from fetal nerve cells, called neuroblasts. Typically affecting children five years or younger, this cancer usually develops in the adrenal gland, but can spread to other parts of the body. For the Hudson family, learning that Ellie was suffering from this condition felt like a waking nightmare.
“It completely knocked the wind out of us,” Kelly said. “It came as a complete shock.”
A human connection in the midst of crisis
In the immediate aftermath of Ellie’s diagnosis, something remarkable happened. The Hudson family gained the full support of the Ochsner Health community. Even as they faced an unimaginable difficulty, they were already being shown the support that would help them through.
“They gave us the room to ourselves,” Kelly said. “And I remember the support of everybody from the children’s unit. People came in and said, ‘We’re here for you, and this is what you need to do next.’ I didn’t know what to do. I had never dealt with children’s cancer.”
That level of personal support and care continued throughout their experience at Ochsner. The Ochsner staff didn’t treat them as anonymous patients, but as human beings who deserve to be seen and heard—having their pain comforted and their joys shared.
“The first day we walked in, everybody knew who we were,” Kelly said. “I consider the nurses friends at this point. We know about their families, they know about us, everything.”
Craig Lotterman, MD, treated Ellie shortly after her diagnosis. When he first started medical school, he had no intention of going into pediatric oncology. However, as he continued to study, he discovered pediatric oncology allowed him to put his strong scientific background to work in multiple areas relating to patient care.
“In a lot of ways,” Dr. Lotterman said, “pediatric oncology is the best expression of medicine. Pediatric oncology allows you to be any form of doctor you want to be: it involves clinical research, basic science research, procedures and taking care of sick patients. At the same time, you get to develop long term bonds with families. There’s a connection, not just for a moment, but for a patient’s life.”
That connection, combined with the science behind it, drew Dr. Lotterman to medicine in the first place. It led him to Ochsner, where he currently sits as the Section Head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Ochsner Hospital for Children, as well as an Associate Professor at the Ochsner/University of Queensland School of Medicine.
— Craig Lotterman, MD
A home away from home at the pediatric oncology clinic
For decades, Ochsner has worked tirelessly to fight cancers in children and young adults. Ochsner Hospital for Children has been ranked among the top 50 children’s hospitals in the country six years in a row, offering specialist care to children with cancer and a range of blood disorders.
The pediatric oncology unit actively participates in clinical trials and offers cutting-edge therapeutic options to children in Louisiana and the Gulf South. But what’s more, the hospital fosters an environment that helps patients feel safe. Patients see the same doctors and nurses every time they come in, and these caregivers bond with children and families.
“One of the premises we run our clinic on is that we view the clinic as a family,” Dr. Lotterman said. “In many ways, we spend as much time talking about deep, scary things with these patients as anyone in their family.”
“Dr. Lotterman is so personal with us,” Kelly said. “Our discussions are not only about treatment, it’s: how’s your family doing? Have you watched this show recently?”
This unique culture is essential to the clinic’s mission of providing high-quality pediatric care and easing the difficult journey for children, parents, and other family members. “It’s really important to families,” Dr. Lotterman said. “We remind them that they know their child better than we ever will, and that we know the medicine best. By working together, we will get through the complexities of their child’s cancer therapy.”
Craig Lotterman, MD, Section Head, Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Photo: Stephen Legendre
According to Dr. Lotterman, Ochsner’s care teams believe the family’s insights are just as important as those of the doctors and nurses. “The days when a doctor told you what to do in a sterile environment and you did whatever they said are past. Patients and parents have ideas and we have to communicate.”
One crucial aspect of the clinic’s approach is how it strives to make it possible for patients to remain at home during their treatment, while still receiving the same quality of care.
“We want to give evidence-based, state-of-the-art care to all patients, and allow them to stay at home,” Dr. Lotterman explained. “Parents’ first question is usually, where can I take my kid? Where’s the best place for them to be? I tell families, if you can get the same medicine, wouldn’t you rather stay in your own bed?”
Kelly has appreciated this level of attention and care throughout the process of Ellie’s treatment journey.
“Every time we’ve ever had to call— maybe she’s lost a lot of weight or isn’t feeling well—Dr. Lotterman always asks, ‘How comfortable do you feel at home with her?” Kelly said. “We’re within a ten minute drive to Ochsner, so obviously, if anything were to happen we would immediately bring her in. But they understand that the best place for Ellie is with her family at home.”
“Especially with COVID-19 regulations,” Kelly added, “being limited to one parent at a time and no visitors can be really hard for families. They’ve always understood that and have made us feel comfortable wherever we are.”
Overcoming trials with a support system
Ellie’s journey has been full of unexpected challenges. After Ellie’s initial diagnosis in 2018, she underwent chemotherapy for four months. Her treatment worked—her tumor stabilized and she didn’t need further treatment. Then, in September 2020, routine scans showed that her tumor had started growing again. Ellie needed to resume chemotherapy treatment. Once again, the Hudson family found the Ochsner community rose to the occasion providing their family with full support.
“They welcomed us back with open arms,” Kelly said. “All the nurses know our names. They know us.”
Instead of receiving care at home, the Hudsons chose in-patient treatment as the best option for their daughter. Then, they learned they were expecting another child. In February 2021, Ochsner prepared Ellie for two surgeries to be performed at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City. Ellie’s parents accompanied her across the country - her mother was 32 weeks pregnant.
“My husband and I wanted to be there with her during her surgeries,” Kelly said. “But due to me being so far along and due to COVID regulations, we needed to switch off. We couldn’t be with her every day.”
It was a challenging time. But brighter days were around the corner. Ellie’s surgeries went well with no complications. Kelly gave birth to the family’s second daughter, Lily. The support from Ochsner crossed state borders as the care team took an active and concerned interest in Ellie’s condition as she recovered in New York.
— Kelly Hudson
“We were in constant contact with the nurses from Dr. Lotterman’s office,” Kelly said. “We had their personal numbers. They called us to see how the surgery went and how Ellie was doing.”
The support that the Hudsons received through the clinics at Ochsner might seem remarkable, but for families at Ochsner Hospital for Children, it’s the norm. The generosity and kindness of the greater Ochsner community help make it possible. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and Dr. Lotterman stressed how critical awareness and support can be for pediatric oncology patients.
“Every oncology center loves it when people come and ask how they can help,” Dr. Lotterman said. “Any help is appreciated, from coming in and reading stories to children to donating money to patient support, research and different patient care resources. These kids go through a war without complaint, and they need everybody’s help.”
Ochsner’s donor funds offer support to children and families undergoing treatment for pediatric cancers. Funds support stays at the Brent House, which offers a comfortable environment to families who travel more than two hours for procedures, clinic visits and infusions. The fund also assists families with gas and food expenditures.
“This is not an everyday occurrence for people,” Kelly said. “As hard as it’s been on us, and Ellie, we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support we’ve received from Ochsner’s Child Life Department, the nursing staff at the oncology clinic, all the oncologists and our family. We’ve been lucky to have an amazing support system both within Ochsner and outside Ochsner.”
Ellie enjoys playtime at the Ochsner Hospital for Children
Photo: Daymon Gardner
