Angel P. - Quilt Finished in 2007
Born: March 5, 2002
Illness: Clear Cell Sarcoma, Epilepsy,Failure to thrive
Angel's Story
Written by Angel's mom Stephoney in 2007
Angel Cheyenne was born in South Williamson, Kentucky on March 5th, 2002. We were told she was a healthy baby girl. As time progressed everything felt like it was the way it was supposed to be. We moved from there to Ohio a few months later. She was a very loving and happy baby.
When It All Started
I was very upset to say the least. I called my husband at work and we then rushed her to the closest ER. We walked in wanting answers on what was wrong with her. We were sat down in a small room and questioned about if I had dropped her, we were more the less being interrogated.
I left that ER very angry and still not knowing what was going on. I decided to take her to the pediatrician anyway. We arrived there and were told that they were getting ready to call us to come in. Not because of us calling earlier that morning but because the ER had called with a crazy story on how I had abused my child. All the ER had done was do X-Rays which turned out fine.
The doctor felt her side and we knew something was wrong when she began to apologize for not seeing us sooner. We were told to take her to Children's Urgent Care for an ultrasound because the doctor had felt what she called a mass on Angel's right side.
Still not prepared for what we would hear next they did the test. My husband Billy and I were so worried as all the different doctors piled into our one little exam room. The words they told us turned my life as I had known it upside down. We were told that she did have a mass or tumor. They also told us that more than likely it was cancer. I dropped to the floor, trying to erase all the doctors said from my memory.
I ran out of the exam room not knowing where I was going, or what to do next. We were told to take Angel to Children's Hospital here in Columbus Ohio. We went home to get things together to make the trip. On our way home I remember thinking about when she was born, my husband and I left the morning she was born as a couple and came home as a family. Now we may do the opposite leave as a family come home as a couple. I could not comprehend losing her.
We made the ride to the hospital which seemed like it took hours, all the thoughts rushing in and out of our heads. To be honest we thought it was a death sentence, you think of cancer you think death.
Angel was admitted that night and had many tests and diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Clear Cell Saroma. Two days later (June 12, 2003) she was in surgery to remove the large tumor from her kidney, liver and diaphragm. The surgery was a complete failure; Angel had lost so much blood that she suffered multiple strokes. She was in the PICU for around 17 days, 14 of them she was on a ventilator unable to breath on her own. We were told to make her happy because the odds were not in our favor.
Every night I would drop to my knees in prayer! The surgeon told us that if they had not done the surgery that they never would have noticed her bleeding internally. If I would have listened to the first doctor at the other hospital and taken my daughter home, she may have lived a few days then the bleeding would have been to much for her body to handle.
She suffered many complications because of the strokes she was paralyzed on her right side for months, and unable to swallow anything so we vein fed her for weeks.
Being the fighter she is she began walking and talking again, she learned it as fast as we could teach it. I finally after hours of prayers got myself together the best I could and knew deep down if I had the faith God had the cure. Angel went on to receive months of chemotherapy and radiation.
We were in the hospital the first time for five and a half weeks, after that she came home maybe twice a month. Finally in October she had the second surgery to remover the kidney, which was a complete success. Now we dealing with other things....
She now has issues with Epilepsy (because of the strokes), speech and attention. They are testing her for ADHD she finds it hard to be still and pay attention. She now has her glasses because her eye sight is very poor. All together she is a very happy baby girl!
