Heros - Round 1

This is Layla Grace. She was born November 26, 2007. In May of 2009, Layla was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Treatment started right away. Over the space of 10 months, Layla underwent 7 rounds of chemotherapy, 11 surgeries, multiple blood transfusions, a bone marrow harvest and transplant, radiation, and lengthy hospital stays. After fervent prayers and too many close calls, Layla was announced cancer free. Then, on January 22 of this year, Layla relapsed for the first time. Despite the work of the doctors and the many prayers sent up in Layla's behalf, Layla earned her eternal wings and joined heaven's army on March 9th of this year. Today would be her 3rd birthday. We love and miss you Layla, xoxo.

The day after Layla died, four year old Angelina Dorsagno was diagnosed with the same form of cancer. Doctors found that the cancer had already metastasized, invading a majority of Lena’s tiny body. There were tumors in Lena’s brain, bones, spine, face, shoulder, femur, hips, and abdomen. Her family was informed that she needed to start chemo that very day.
Since March 10th, Lena has undergone six rounds of chemo and surgery to remove a large part of her main tumor. She has spent countless weeks in the hospital, away from her father, Brian, and his fiancé, Lisa, her stepfather, Matt and her four older siblings, Geno, Bella, Mia and Mya.
On September 7, the same day she was supposed to start Pre-K, Lena started the most intense part of her treatment, an autologous stem cell transplant with high dose chemo. Currently, she is on day three of the high dose chemotherapy. These high doses also carry high risks, but Lena and her family are keeping their faith.

You know that tight feeling in your chest after running a mile? That pressure that makes it hard to breath – the brick sitting there, warning you that it’s time to stop? Imagine, if you will not being able to ever catch your breath. Imagine something inside of you competing for the very breath you’re struggling to take. And now, imagine enduring this at only 6 months old.

March 4, 2009 Jaxon Kyle Wallace was born. He was a fighter from day one. Born six weeks early, the cards were already stacked against him, but Jaxon didn’t let that deter him. He learned to eat like a champ and went home after ten days in the NICU.

At Jaxon’s four-month check-up he was congested and coughing, but after medications and the regular use of a humidifier, his symptoms cleared up. Jaxon’s mom, Heather, noticed that although he was feeling better his breathing wasn't stable and very noisy. So at his six-month check-up she revisited the issue with Jaxon’s pediatrician. The doctor decided to do a chest x-ray – just to be safe.

What the x-ray revealed was a large tumor attached to the back of Jaxon’s right lung. When laid on his stomach, the tumor fell into his lung, putting pressure on his airway and causing the breathing that concerned Heather. Further testing showed that the tumor had also began to invade Jaxon’s spinal cavity, causing compression to his spinal cord.

At six months old, Jaxon had poison pumping through his veins. Chemotherapy that would make him nauseous, weak, and very sick. But don’t forget, Jaxon was born a fighter. And along with his parents, Heather and Kyle, and the doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital, an army was formed to fight the cancer trespassing in his little body. On September 8, 2009, Jaxon was officially diagnosed with Stage II Neuroblastoma.

Jaxon didn’t seem to notice that he was in the hospital. He took in his surroundings with innocent, wide-eyed curiosity, earning the name “The Little Observer” from his nurses and doctors. During his first two weeks at the hospital, Jaxon rolled over for the first time. This would be one of many tiny victories he would make throughout his treatment.

In June of this year, Jaxon was known as the little survivor. <3


Help us find a cure.

Erika