As we head into the final weeks of the year - a time when kids are home from school, and family comes to visit; when some of us will take vacations and all of us will welcome a New Year – we would like to pause for a moment to remember some of the children who have lost their lives to cancer in 2009.
These children remind us of what is important in life, and their lives have forever changed us – they are why we are here, and they are the reason we continue to fight to find better treatments and ultimately cures for childhood cancer.
Please take the time to read about these children, they are our heroes. We honor all of them, remember all of them, and will continue to fight for them until the day that cures become reality.
Here are only two of these amazing hero stories. For more of these hero stories,
Our son Henry was born on July 22, 2004 and was diagnosed with Anaplastic Medulloblastoma on October 13, 2007. He was 3-years-old at time of diagnosis and courageously underwent his treatment over the ensuing 9 months at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Henry had his tumor removed, had three cycles of traditional chemotherapy, two cycles of high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and had full head and spine radiation over the course of six weeks.
Henry came through all of that with flying colors and was a normal boy enjoying life as a 4-year-old for three months before he relapsed. His relapse was gentle on him, allowing us very good days throughout the fall and winter. Early in 2009 however the tumor growth caught up with him very quickly. Our hero fell on February 25 in our family room at home surrounded by love.
We miss him terribly. We love you Henry.
Written by: Bryan Scheck, Henry's Father
Leah Chapman
Leah Chapman was a vibrant, healthy 13-year-old, who loved playing soccer, enjoyed gymnastics, running track, going to the beach and was an honor student. A few months into her 8th grade year, she was crippled from trigeminal nerve pain. It appeared on her first MRI that Leah had a trigeminal schwannoma (a benign tumor). Leah under went surgery in January of 2008 to remove the tumor, but the neurosurgeon quickly discovered it was not benign but was actually a form of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. Leah was immediately referred to the Children’s Hospital. Leah received excellent care from the oncology team and had changed her dream of being a teacher to an oncology nurse practitioner.
Leah's treatment plan called for 4 chemotherapies for a year and daily radiation for six weeks. Leah bravely endured these treatments one day at a time. After 9 months, her tumor resisted all of these treatments and started to grow, causing her crippling pain again. Leah never gave up hope and tried three more treatment protocols to stop her cancer. She had everything to live for, a lifetime of dreams, she was only 14.
Leah, her friends, and family, quickly got involved at her school Alex's Lemonade Stand in September 2008. Thanks to organizer Riley G., they raised over $10,000. Leah was honored when she was able to attend the 2009 Lemon Ball in Philadelphia. Getting dressed up and supporting such a great cause was a dream come true for Leah.
Leah remained determined, positive and hopeful along with her parents, Ray and Christina, and younger brother Eric, that she would be able to survive this devastating illness. Leah's big smile, generous heart, courage, strength and faith during her illness will forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
Leah ultimately lost her life to the disease with grace on April 4th, 2009.
Written by Christina Chapman, Leah's Mother.
These children remind us of what is important in life, and their lives have forever changed us – they are why we are here, and they are the reason we continue to fight to find better treatments and ultimately cures for childhood cancer.
Please take the time to read about these children, they are our heroes. We honor all of them, remember all of them, and will continue to fight for them until the day that cures become reality.
Here are only two of these amazing hero stories. For more of these hero stories,
Our son Henry was born on July 22, 2004 and was diagnosed with Anaplastic Medulloblastoma on October 13, 2007. He was 3-years-old at time of diagnosis and courageously underwent his treatment over the ensuing 9 months at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Henry had his tumor removed, had three cycles of traditional chemotherapy, two cycles of high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and had full head and spine radiation over the course of six weeks.
Henry came through all of that with flying colors and was a normal boy enjoying life as a 4-year-old for three months before he relapsed. His relapse was gentle on him, allowing us very good days throughout the fall and winter. Early in 2009 however the tumor growth caught up with him very quickly. Our hero fell on February 25 in our family room at home surrounded by love.
We miss him terribly. We love you Henry.
Written by: Bryan Scheck, Henry's Father
Leah Chapman
Leah Chapman was a vibrant, healthy 13-year-old, who loved playing soccer, enjoyed gymnastics, running track, going to the beach and was an honor student. A few months into her 8th grade year, she was crippled from trigeminal nerve pain. It appeared on her first MRI that Leah had a trigeminal schwannoma (a benign tumor). Leah under went surgery in January of 2008 to remove the tumor, but the neurosurgeon quickly discovered it was not benign but was actually a form of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. Leah was immediately referred to the Children’s Hospital. Leah received excellent care from the oncology team and had changed her dream of being a teacher to an oncology nurse practitioner.
Leah's treatment plan called for 4 chemotherapies for a year and daily radiation for six weeks. Leah bravely endured these treatments one day at a time. After 9 months, her tumor resisted all of these treatments and started to grow, causing her crippling pain again. Leah never gave up hope and tried three more treatment protocols to stop her cancer. She had everything to live for, a lifetime of dreams, she was only 14.
Leah, her friends, and family, quickly got involved at her school Alex's Lemonade Stand in September 2008. Thanks to organizer Riley G., they raised over $10,000. Leah was honored when she was able to attend the 2009 Lemon Ball in Philadelphia. Getting dressed up and supporting such a great cause was a dream come true for Leah.
Leah remained determined, positive and hopeful along with her parents, Ray and Christina, and younger brother Eric, that she would be able to survive this devastating illness. Leah's big smile, generous heart, courage, strength and faith during her illness will forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
Leah ultimately lost her life to the disease with grace on April 4th, 2009.
Written by Christina Chapman, Leah's Mother.
December 18, 2009
