Krysten P. - Quilt Finished in 2005

Born: November 25, 1993

Illness: Medulloblastoma, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Hydrocephalus

Krysten P.'s Story

written by dad Brian

Krysten was born on 11/25/93.  It was Thanksgiving Day and she was my 7 pound butterball.  Krysten was born a very healthy baby.  Krysten loved life and was always full of energy. 

Krysten is a very smart girl who loves to read and draw.  She loves making jewelry and sharing them with all her friends.  The one thing she loves the most is cats.  Doesn't matter what size or color she loves them all.

It was around Christmas time 2004 when Krysten started having a vertigo about her.  Always leaning to the right when she was walking.  Then came the headaches.  When we brought her to the doctor we were scheduled for an MRI.  After we got the MRI Krysten was diagnosed with Medullablastoma. 

Krysten had a successful total tumor resection on 1/14/05.  Then the ICP got to high and she developed hydrocephalus.

An internal shunt was then put in place.  Then that wasn't working right and they had to go back in and adjust it. Krysten then fell into a state which is called cerebellar mutism, which can last for many months. This is not uncommon with the area of surgery that Krysten has had.

Recently we found out that Krysten has Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) which is a genetic disorder which causes colon cancer.  A colonoscopy and an endoscope were done and pre-cancerous polyps were discovered in her colon and stomach.  We are waiting until the radiation treatment and chemotherapy are done until she gets her colonectomy and possible gastroectomy.

Written by Krysten's dad Brian