Childhood Cancer

William Abernathy

Thank you Alex's Lemonade Stand for accommodating our family with travel from Atlanta to Philadelphia for Will's treatment. You helped ease our financial burden by providing travel aid for trips to and from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Will Abernathy, age 3 1/2 is battling stage IV neuroblastoma cancer. Will’s response to the first 6 standard rounds of chemo was not what the doctors were hoping for. His scan results showed only a partial response to the chemo with little change and his doctor did not feel that he was ready to move on to stem cell, which was the next step on Will’s protocol. Will's treatment plan took a different path and he was sent to CHOP to continue two treatments with 131I-MIBG therapy offered at only five hospitals in the nation.  Will's disease is stable after two treatments of 131I-MIBG and he is currently on a clinical trial that was suggested by his doctor in Philadelphia. This particular trial is open in Atlanta so we haven't had to travel lately. We are so grateful that Alex's Lemonade Stand's Travel for Care program is available to families who will stop at nothing to get the best treatment for their child.

Melody Abernathy
October 2011