2009 Patient Story: Stay Tuned!

2008 Patient Story: Logan Lewis
Logan Lewis was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer at the age of 5 in the summer of 2007. Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest and spinal cord.  In the beginning of July, 2007, Logan began limping and running a fever which lead to several trips to Children’s hospital for a diagnosis.  Throughout this time, Logan’s mom, Kelly, was due to give birth at the end of the month.  A definitive diagnosis of neuroblastoma came on July 26, 2007. Logan’s baby brother, Peyton was born 4 days later on July 30

Dr. Julie Park supervised Logan’s treatments and numerous stays at Children’s Hospital.  This last year has brought 6 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor, a stem cell transplant, radiation, and an experimental treatment.  Logan endured his treatments well with a smile and positive attitude.  On many of Logan’s inpatient stays, he always found time to tease the nurses or ride a tricycle around the oncology floor.

Logan is now six years old and is planning on beginning first grade this fall.  He's happy, loving, confident and full of life! Logan is finishing his last round of an experimental treatment of neuroblastoma at the beginning of August and then has a family vacation planned to Disney World.  Logan will continue to visit Children's every three months for follow-up scans that could reveal a return of the cancer. Logan’s parents are thankful to the staff at Children’s for their amazing care throughout this past year and are confident that Logan will beat this disease thanks to the staff at Children’s Hospital. 

For more information about Logan Lewis please visit his website

2007 Patient Story: Thomas Bailey
Thomas Bailey was diagnosed with stage 3 neuroblastoma cancer at the tender age of 8 months. Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant cells form in nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest and spinal cord. The cause of the tumor is unknown and symptoms can vary. Often, children experience few symptoms until the cancer has spread to the bones and bone marrow making treatment prolonged and difficult.

 
Thomas' cancer was discovered during a routine exam for a bad chest cold. He was immediately admitted to Children's Hospital in August 2005 under the care of Dr. Julie Park. He initially spent 10 days in the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance wing where she determined his course of treatment would be several months of chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the diminished tumor. Treatment went well, especially due to the advances in pediatric cancer, cutting-edge drugs to combat nausea, and the meticulous care of the Children's Hospital staff.

Thomas is now three years old and is growing and maturing like any other child his age. He's happy, loving, confident and full of life! Thomas still visits Children's every six months for follow-up CT scans that would reveal a return of the cancer but the chances are slim. Even if the cancer did return, his parents know he is in the best of hands with Children's Hospital. They are grateful and indebted to them for restoring Thomas' health.

2006 Patient Story: Kelty Pierce
Kelty Pierce has been a patient at Children's Hospital since she was a year old. At the time of her birth in December, 1997, she was diagnosed with Developmental Dysplacia of the Hip, the abnormal growth of the hip joint (DDH). After her first unsuccessful surgery at eight weeks-old, and a year of follow up treatment in Tacoma, Kelty came to see Dr. Mohammad Diab in Children's Orthopedic Clinic. He determined Kelty needed more surgery and she went in January, 1999 for the first of five surgical procedures. Between the ages of two months and five years-old, Kelty had six surgeries, each one followed by a body cast, cast changes and numerous hospital stays.

Dr. Diab left Children's in 2002 and Kelty is now under the care of Dr. Vincent Mosca. She sees him annually, and although she is stable and in no pain, more surgery is imminent. Kelty's hip sockets are not normal - never will be completely, so she is destined for dual hip replacements once she is fully grown. It is our hope to put that off long enough for technology to make that procedure less invasive and more permanent.

Kelty Pierce is ten years-old and is in fourth grade in Puyallup. She has been a reader since the very beginning and excels in school. She participates in Puyallup's highly-capable pull-out program called Quest. Kelty has also found she has a passion for acting and has participated in four children's theater productions this past year. She just finished her fourth year of snow skiing and thinks she may have found her sport!   Kelty lives with her mom and dad, Carina and Dean, and has two brothers, Carter (five) and Tanner (three).

2004 Patient Story: Brandon Rankin
Brandon was born four weeks premature. He had surgery the next day for posterior urethra valves, but the damage to his kidneys was too extensive.  At one week old we were flown to Children’s where we met the most unbelievably brilliant doctors. The doctors kept Brandon’s kidneys working until he was 2 ½ years old.  Dialysis, the next step, was short-lived because he was not doing as well as the doctors had hoped.  Six months later we were having a transplant.  Mom was the donor.  Six years have passed and Brandon is a healthy and very active nine-year-old boy.

2004 Patient Story: Haille Alley
After taking Haille to the doctor for a cold at Port Angeles Hospital, x-rays showed Haille’s heart was enlarged. She left immediately by ambulance to Children’s with Grandma Kathleen. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a tumor on the left side of her heart, doctors were unable to operate. Haille’s condition was so serious that she was placed on the National Transplant List. Imagine how excited we were the morning our nurse Karen Killian asked grandma, “How would you like to celebrate a birthday for Haille?” They found a heart for Haille!  Several weeks of ups and downs later, we were sent home with our little granddaughter. “The ups out-weigh the downs!”

2004 Patient Story: Katie Goheen
We had heard of Children’s Hospital and how much they do to help people but we never fathomed that our family would one day need their help. When my daughter, Katie, was diagnosed with cancer of the bone she was twelve years old. She had to undergo many forms of treatment, the longest lasting 18 hours. When our insurance company refused coverage (claiming it was cosmetic surgery) Children’s was ready to help. Children’s made it possible for Katie to have surgeries on her lower jaw and teeth. The doctors and staff at Children’s have been so helpful and for that we are truly grateful.