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Rachel's Story
Rachel, Blake and Lance
Imagine yourself preparing to go on vacation, your children are so excited and you're looking forward to this special time with your family.   Then your two-year-old complains of an "owie" and when you change her diaper you find a lump in her right groin area.  Later that day after visiting the doctor you put your child down for a nap and when she wakes up there is a large lump on her inner right thigh.

Terrible things begin running through your mind, you don't know if you should call the doctor or your husband.  The doctors think it is only a swollen lymph gland because she had been running a fever.  Later your regular doctor calls and says she doesn't like this and wants some tests.  The ultra sound shows a solid mass in her thigh, it could be cancer. In fear and panic you're thinking, "No, not my baby!"

You are then referred to Minneapolis Children's Hospital where more tests are done.  You see your baby anesthetized twice in two days for tests-MRI, CT Scan, biopsy.  The biopsy shows it is definitely cancer so a bone marrow biopsy is done and a port is put in.  She has a large mass in her abdominal area that extends through her right groin and into her inner right thigh.  It has also spread to her lungs.

Your baby is in pain because of the surgery and bone marrow biopsy but she won't take her pain medicine.  How do you deal with a baby who is hurting while your heart is being ripped apart and your world has just turned upside down. You want to scream or run away!

Then you wait and wait several days while the kind of cancer is confirmed.  Ewing's Sarcoma!!!!  What is that?!?!  Survival rate 35%!!!   No, don't tell me anymore, we can't handle it!  What do we tell our boys, ages 8 ½ and almost 4 years old?

Now you have to take your baby in for more tests and to be anesthetized again for a bone scan.  Later that day you have to sign a consent form to give your baby daughter, who right now appears to be very healthy, chemotherapy which will make her very sick. After you've signed the consent form, the doctor tells you that if your baby had no treatment she could be gone in two months.  You hold her in her arms, wrap your hands around her and pull her so close to you in fear and love.  You just want to take her pain and cancer away but you can't.

Now your family is torn apart.  Mommy is in the hospital with your sick child while daddy is working and shuffling the two boys to friends and relatives to care for them.  You want to hold your spouse in your arms but you can't, you only communicate over the telephone.

This is Mark and Jodi's story along with their three children, Blake, Lance, and Rachel. Their life will never be as it was. The normal they once knew is gone, gone forever. In one weeks time their lives were turned upside down and they are riding a roller coaster of emotions.

They have put their trust in God or they would not have made it through these last three weeks. The prayers you are offering are helping them in many ways.  They are thankful that none of Rachel's vital organs are affected, that her bones and bone marrow are clear and that she is strong willed.

Rachel's treatment plan is set up for 42 weeks and could easily go longer depending on her health throughout the treatment.  Rachel will be spending a lot of time in the hospital the first year or two. As of today it has been 13 days since her treatment began on August 1st and she has spent 8 of them in the hospital.  That was only 5 days at home.  This will be the new normal for them.  You can see that they need you to stay with them for the long haul. They need to know that you will support them throughout this ordeal.

We are expecting a miracle!  We are expecting Rachel to be cancer free!!!!!

 

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