Make A Child Smile

Jessica's Story
written by mom Amy

Jessica Michaela was born on September 20, 1994. She was perfect and developing as any "normal" child would. Her life began to change in the year 2001. This 6 year old started experiencing headaches, blurred vision, vomiting in the morning, and low-grade fevers that went away with medication. She was diagnosed with food allergies, migraines, and last anxiety/depression. None of these were the correct diagnosis. Finally on Monday, October 29, 2001; after completing a 5 mile Making Strides (how appropriate) Breast Cancer Walk the day before, in Honor of my Mother and others; Cincinnati Children's Hospital gave us the correct diagnosis which was a "Brain Tumor". We weren't sure what type of tumor we were dealing with, but her neurosurgeon, Dr. Myseros, was pretty sure we were dealing with a rare malignant tumor called an "Ependymoma".

On October 31, 2001, Jessica never fully came out of her sedation from getting a MRI. They had to put a shunt in her head in the ICU room because there wasn't much time. We were losing her quickly. She was also put on a ventilator. What a frightening site to see your child hooked up to so many machines that were working for her to keep her alive. She finally got to be taken off the ventilator and she held my hand and told me, "Mom, I'm not mad at you. I Love You. Also, I want to tell you that Jesus said my work here on Earth isn't finished yet." With that in my mind, I knew her brain surgery was going to go okay and I was correct. There weren't any complications. The whole tumor was removed and she could still walk and talk!!! Dr. Myseros was correct on the type of tumor. It was an Ependymoma. We then began radiation to kill off any remaining cells, which went really well.

Jessica was doing well and just got a clean bill of health from her oncologist Dr. Wagner in August 2003. But the month of September changed. She was having back pain. Kidney infection and arthritis were ruled out. Five days after Jess turned 9 (September 25th) our nightmare begin again. The MRI scan revealed new growth of tumor near her spinal cord. She knew her cancer had come back before we could even tell her. She reminded me that her work here on Earth still wasn't completed. Again, another successful surgery in which Dr. Myseros removed the whole tumor and Jess didn't have any problems with walking. What a Christmas present on December 18th, 2003. We did have a long 5 months with chemo and its terrible side effects along with a port and c-line that weren't cooperative most of the time.

Jessica made it to March 9, 2006 when doing a routine MRI, they found a small spot which turned out to be yet another reoccurrence/relapse. This spot was inoperable and our only option was to do Radiostatic Radiation Surgery.

That was just one very big dose, but very precise to hit just that area. She did well with that treatment until August of 06 when she was having difficulty seeing. This MRI showed that her brain was swelling which is a result from that radiation. We got the swelling down, but not without having a massive doses of steroids. She started having a bad reaction to the steroids which took her out of school and into a hospital bed at home. With 4 months of recovery at home and then off of steroids, Jessica started back to school and trying to be a kid again.

We had 2 more good routine scans when on August 22, 2007 another spot showed up again in her spine. This spot we are able to get to, and get a biopsy done. She began radiation in November, a total of 30 treatments which ended December 18th. Through all those treatments everyday, she still kept her chin up. There were times when I went to pick her up from school and there were tears coming down. She didn’t want to leave school.

Jessica made it through the summer of 2008, and to her 14th birthday, without any signs or symptoms of her cancer. But when she had her routine scans done on September 22nd/23rd, the doctors found some more cancer in her brain and possibly in her spine. This is her 4th relapse!!

We are very fortunate that she isn't experiencing any signs or symptoms. The doctors are giving us a good prognosis for treatment which is going to be Radiostatic surgery along with some oral chemo. Jessica's faith in GOD remains very strong as she starts to fight her cancer now for the 5th time. "With every bad thing that happens, there is beauty in the end!" Jessica says.

She is very determined not to miss any school this year. With that determination and looking forward to being in her aunt's wedding, she is really ready to continue this fight. She really is inspired by all the words of encouragement that she receives from everyone at Make A Child Smile. We are very Blessed to found this website. Thank you for all that you have done for us.

(Story and Interests were last updated October, 2008)