Eric F. - Quilt Finished in 2005

Born: November 13, 1994

Illness: Undifferentiated Sarcoma - Tumor of the spine

Eric F.'s Story

written by mom Cathy

Eric was born October 13, 1994, in Peoria Arizona, weighing in at 6lbs 1 oz.  He was a very healthy baby and such a joy to have. From day one, he had a mind of his own and continues to be a very strong willed child.  He was always smiling and was never sick.  He has the good fortune to have his grandma take care of him while mom and dad worked. 

Since Oct. 2002, he has gone through a life that no child should ever have to live.  Here is his incredible story:

In October, 2002, just before his 8th birthday, we noticed that his left eye was drooping.  We took him to his pediatrician for a checkup and were told that it was possible Bells Palsy.  We came home and immediately researched what Bells Palsy was.  The symptoms fit so we weren’t overly concerned.  However, his eye never improved over the next few weeks, and by then his shoulder was also starting to droop so we took him back to the doctor and a CT scan was done on his head.  That showed nothing and again we were sent home.  Eric had just entered the 2nd grade and was having a lot of difficulty sitting still and concentrating.  One night he was complaining very strongly about his shoulder hurting and asked me if I could rub it.  Well when I went to rub it, I noticed a lump on his back.  The next day we went back to the doctor’s office where an MRI was scheduled.  Eric went through a 4 hour MRI test on a Friday and a Saturday.  When the MRI results came back on the following Monday, we were told to immediately go to the hospital.  Well, needless to say, we were all very scared and worried.  At the hospital that first day, there were all kinds of doctors coming in and out of his room doing all kinds of tests on his arms, hands, legs and feet.  Finally, after being in the hospital for half the night we were told that he had a “massive” tumor on his spine and around into his chest, and he needed surgery ASAP.  He had his surgery on Nov.15, 2002.  The doctor who performed the surgery told us that his tumor “looked good”, (whatever that means) but they were not able to remove it all from his chest.  He was in the hospital for several days and the day he was being released the doctor came in and told us the devastating news that the tumor was cancerous. 

On December 13, 2002, Eric received his first round of Chemotherapy.  What awful medicine that is.  He was so sick, and no words can express the helplessness that I as a mom felt.  There was nothing that I could do to help him.  During the year 2003, he received 39 “aggressive” chemo treatments, and 25 radiation treatments.  After each treatment, his recovery time was longer and longer.  He would be in the hospital for 2 days getting his chemo, and then he would have to have get shots for 14 days.  About 2 weeks after his treatments, it would never fail that he would end up back in the hospital for low blood fevers and low blood counts.  That meant another 3-4 days in the hospital.  He missed most all of his 2nd grade and half of his 3rd grade.  He started 4th grade this year but is somewhat behind the other students in his class.  He continues to struggle with getting tired pretty easy.

We hope that anyone who reads this will pray for him.  The type of tumor he had has not been identified so therefore the doctors can give us no statistics for reoccurrence.  Eric’s doctor did tell us when his MRI came back with no signs of tumor left, that he considers him in remission.  However he said that we have to understand that there is a difference in being in remission and being cured and that Eric was not cured.  What heartbreaking news for parents to hear.

Eric has to have MRI’s now every 3-4 months and after the first year we think they will go to every 6 months.  His latest MRI, which was taken in October, 2004, came back looking good with no sign of a tumor.

HOW THANKFUL WE ARE FOR THAT.

Written by Eric's mom Cathy