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| From Jasmine |
Childhood Cancer, you suck!! You suck more than anything has ever sucked before in the history of suckiness!!! Can you imagine having to decide whether or not your 1 year old should have surgery to remove half of her brain?!! Do we need more research into rare diseases like ATRT?!!! Uhhhhh DUH!!!
A little background is in order. We have a local family that is very close to us. We met at the clinic a few years ago while Benjamin and I were waiting for chemo. They have the most beautiful daughter Jasmine who is fighting a rare brain cancer (ATRT). We have been through chemo, hospital stays, and scanxiety together. On more than one occasion, the girls and I have visited them in the hospital to bring them food. Jodie and Stephanie are like my brother and sister. We have laughed and yelled and cried together on a very regular basis.
One year ago, we found out that little Jasmines tumors had grown so large that she needed to have a hemispherectomy (a procedure where half of the brain is removed). Jasmine fought bravely through her surgery and radiation, and it looked like she might be one of the 10% that survives ATRT. A few months later we got the devastating news that several tumors had formed in her remaining half of a brain. So Jasmine and her family did what they always do…they bravely headed back into surgery to remove the tumors that had grown. After many prayers, Jasmine looked like she was recovering nicely and once again we though that maybe she had beaten this beast.
We found out a few weeks ago that new tumors have formed, and Jasmine is losing her battle with ATRT. She is now spending her last days on earth at home with her Mommy and Daddy who are cherishing all the snuggles they can get, even as they fight exhaustion. We are devastated by the news. There aren’t even words for the pain Jasmine’s Mom and Dad are going through right now. And as I finish up this post, I find that I do not have the words to express my emotions right now, other than Childhood Cancer SUCKS!!
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