My daughter was 10 or 11 when her one leg started to shrink in size compared to other. We searched endlessly for a doctor to understand that we didn’t think it was an orthopedic issue as they claimed. Jackie wasn’t getting better, and then we finally found a doctor at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) who was very good. They found a growth in her abdomen and we feared the worst, as it was not going away. She walked across the room in front of this world famous surgeon and he said, "your daughter, Jackie, has a neuroblastoma in her abdomen I believe.” This was in 1976, we didn’t live in the city, and we had to leave Jackie there alone in a huge hospital. She was very afraid. I came home to cry and pray that she would make it and not leave me. After they operated and removed the tumor, she had to have many painful tests done to make sure the cancer wouldn’t return. It was summer when she was operated on, and after several weeks, she was able to go home. Doctors had to see her each month to check and make sure tumors didn’t return, it wouldn’t be until she was 15 that we would know if she would make it they said. We didn’t tell our daughter this. They got the entire tumor and it didn’t spread, but we were still scared. The doctor was not going to use chemotherapy. She is now 46-years-old, and over the years she has corresponded with the doctor who saved her life. He is much older today. I would give anything to Children’s Hospital I could for saving Jackie's life. She is now going through another difficult battle with another health ailment, but we hope it’s not cancer. She is a strong gal and has been successful and strong throughout her life, and the neuroblastoma. The doctor said she is very lucky to have survived. She cares about all the children and St. Jude’s, and Alex's foundation, as he knows what she went through, with cancer. I know she wants to reach out more and be of as much help to kids with this in her future. God Bless all.
 
Written by Suzanne C. Keer, Jacqueline’s Mom
June 2011