By: Erin Weller
This July, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is spotlighting a few special heroes in honor of Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcomas arise in the bone or soft tissue, but the treatment methods for these types of cancer are often outdated, causing their cure rates to lag behind many others. Still, kids like Gabby, Malina and Krystabelle keep fighting.
Meet some of the inspiring heroes who make this month matter:
Gabby
Gabby’s family thought she was experiencing growing pains until a visit to the pediatrician changed everything. After getting redirected to the hospital for many tests, it was clear: Gabby had metastatic osteosarcoma. She underwent a port placement, surgery and many rounds of chemotherapy, but her perseverance paid off.
Today, Gabby is celebrating four years without cancer. Still, her treatment resigned her to a wheelchair for over a year until she had learned how to walk again. Since then, she’s graduated high school and is set to attend UC Santa Cruz in the fall!
Malina
Malina was an active toddler, but overtime, she gradually stopped walking. Doctors believed she was acting out, but her parents knew something was wrong. An MRI revealed a mass in her spine, pressing against her nerves – it was Ewing sarcoma. Malina began a difficult treatment process but was able to emerge with no evidence of disease. She even enrolled in a study led by ALSF-funded researcher, Dr. Glen Samuel, and contributed to his research by helping reveal new biomarkers for Ewing sarcoma to help other kids.
Today, she is 8 years old and cancer-free. Although Malina is still in physical therapy trying to improve her ability to walk, she takes on each new day with a positive attitude.
Krystabelle
Krystabelle or KB was playing with her brother when she suddenly lost her energy and ability to go to the bathroom. Later that night, her parents felt the tumor and rushed through a snowstorm to get her to the hospital. At 4 years old KB was diagnosed with stage IV embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and began many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.
Although she’s suffered side effects from chemo, today, KB is cancer-free and in her teens.
The treatment Gabby received was 40 years old.
Malina’s journey helped researchers learn about more kids like her.
Doctors told KB she wouldn’t live to be 5, but now, she is 15.
Although these kids beat their cancer, life since then has been filled with its share of obstacles in the form of side effects from treatment. This Sarcoma Awareness Month you have the power to improve the outcome for kids with cancer by helping fund crucial research for more cures and safer treatments.
