Make A Child Smile

Alexa's Story
written by mom Wendy

Alexa was born on February 21st, 1998. She was healthy as can be. Alexa was a normal child and never had any health complications. She enjoyed being a kid and did very well in school!

In early May 2006, we noticed that our eight-year-old daughter Alexa had started showing several odd medical symptoms, but nothing that seemed too alarming. She had several headaches, double and blurry vision, and some dizziness. Our family figured she might be having eye problems. We began noticing that Alexa's left eye was not tracking properly. On May 11th, 2006, Alexa saw our family doctor. After a general exam all appeared okay except for her inability to perform a heel to toe, straight line walk. The doctor immediately ordered an MRI. She had the MRI at a local Hospital. The worst news any parent could receive was given to us. The MRI showed a tumor in Alexa's brain. They surmised that the tumor was cancerous.

Dr. Diller suggested that we take Alexa immediately up to St. Vincent's hospital in Toledo to see Dr. Healy (a pediatric neurosurgeon). The tumor was located in the cerebellum. Though brain tumors are rare, this specific type of tumor is the most common brain tumor found in children. It is called a Medulloblastoma. Alexa's surgery to resect the tumor was scheduled for May 12, 2006. The tumor was removed after 4 hours of surgery.

Alexa developed delayed onset loss of speech, unsteadiness, and irritability. This syndrome is called Cerebellar Mutism. Alexa was not able to talk at all for over two weeks. Her speech has slowly been coming back and she is now talking very similar to how she did before her surgery. She is still walking with assistance but has made some great progress. Alexa is currently undergoing speech, physical, and occupational therapy with local professionals.

Alexa went through 6 weeks of radiation to her brain and 3 of those weeks were also to her spinal cord. She had 6 treatments of chemotherapy during radiation. The drug given was Vincristine. Towards the end of August 2006, she began her big chemo treatments. Her cycles involved the drugs Cytoxin, Cisplatin, Lomustine, and Vincristine. She had 9 cycles of chemo which ended in July, 2007, and she even had an End of Chemo Party in August.

Sadly, in May of 2008, Alexa relapsed. The "stupid cancer", as Alexa calls it, came back in her spine. She began high dose chemo again.

In August of 2008, Alexa began her 3rd cycle of chemo. Stem cell harvesting will take place when cycle is complete. She will undergo a Stem Cell Transplant in Columbus soon.

(Story and Interests were last updated October, 2008)