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topic icon Author Topic: Ariyana Southwick  (Read 16260 times)
monkeygirl
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URL icon « on: May 22, 2008, 10:03:37 AM »



I'd like to ask my festivarian family to keep my granddaughter Ariyana and her momma and pop (Candice and Clay) in their thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks.

I mentioned in another thread that they had found the cancer "Neuroblastoma" in the little one and we now know more about this disease.  After lots of testing (with lots more to come) they have discovered that she has many tumors in her abdomen.  She has a quarter sized tumor in one lobe of her liver, two dime sized tumors in the other with about a dozen smaller nodules throughout; she has a half dollar sized tumor in her (r) kidney in addition to 3 or 4 pea sized tumors; she has a 3x3x5 tumor in her adrenal gland.  This is stage four cancer in our four month old little nugget of love and we are devastated.

We are praying for miracles, and I must admit to being shameless in my attempts to get others involved in this effort.  My grandbaby already shows an amazing love for music  (as well as a preference for what she likes to hear!) and I've no doubt that we are talking about a future festivarian here. 

Love to you all...

Rhonny

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URL icon « Reply #1 on: May 22, 2008, 01:49:43 PM »

She's beautiful. You know you're in my thoughts and prayers.

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URL icon « Reply #2 on: May 22, 2008, 04:18:25 PM »

Sending all my love your way Rhonny!! 
XO
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URL icon « Reply #3 on: May 22, 2008, 05:24:53 PM »

 Wave I don't know you but I read your story and I would like to say that my prayers are with you and your family at this time.

Children are amazing, resilient little fighters.Sounds like she has alot of fine folks fighting for her as well.
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URL icon « Reply #4 on: May 22, 2008, 11:24:31 PM »

Children are amazing, resilient little fighters.Sounds like she has alot of fine folks fighting for her as well.

As well as all of us! We're praying Rhonny.

Auntie Hope
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Courtney
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URL icon « Reply #5 on: May 23, 2008, 11:00:18 AM »

 Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower
All the strength to you and your family in these challenging times. 
Faith Love and Bluegrass

C

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URL icon « Reply #6 on: May 24, 2008, 07:47:40 AM »

Rhonny,
Thank you for letting us know so that we can all be sending healing thoughts to Ariyana. I am sure every festivarian who reads this will share your great concern and wish that they could lighten your load right now.  I hope all of these thoughts and prayers help in every way possible.

Candice is surely very fortunate to have you close by right now.

LuAnna









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monkeygirl
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URL icon « Reply #7 on: May 24, 2008, 12:29:42 PM »

Thank you everyone... We can use all the support we can find right now.  I will show Candice the responses on here... I think it will help her to see that there are people all over who are sending love Ari's way.

xoxo Rhonny
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URL icon « Reply #8 on: May 24, 2008, 01:15:18 PM »

What a beautiful child and family.  I'll add my prayers to the mix and send much love.  I can only imagine how you are all feeling.  I hope she have the best doctors. 

Life is precious every second.  I'm vibing you much strength and insight to help your daughter deal with this.  I'm a grandma too and I know how much more your heart grows when they come.  Take care of yourself while you take care of them.

Hugs to you!
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URL icon « Reply #9 on: May 24, 2008, 02:01:07 PM »

My prayers are with you and your family as well.
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URL icon « Reply #10 on: May 24, 2008, 03:08:46 PM »

What a beautiful baby she is! God Bless her and you and your family.  I will definitely say some extra prayers for all of you.
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URL icon « Reply #11 on: June 08, 2008, 01:21:36 AM »

I wanted to thank everyone for the sweet and supportive personal messages, posts and even phone calls. 

As a result from all the testing, we now know it's neuroblastoma for sure. Now we are waiting for two things to come back:  1) the histology of the tumor from the Shimada test (the pathologist that looks at all the child cancer cases in the COG network, which is the Children's Oncology Group) and Dr. Shimada will tell us if the biology of the tumor looks "mean" and 2) getting the N-MYC gene test back, which is a test that looks for amplification of the cells in the tumor. The amplification is basically if the cells are making copies of themselves, and if they are that means they are aggressive and will need chemo therapy as opposed to simple surgical intervention. So once we know those two items, we will be able to know what classification the NB is (4S that we want or straight 4 High Risk). At this point here are the results we have back:

NB for sure based on the reports the pathologist at Primary Children's Hospital got from the biopsy
Bone scan came back negative
Bone marrow biopsy aspirates came back negative
Bone core came back with a small cluster, but they are not worried about it because there can be 10% presence of NB in the marrow and have it be okay

They are still hoping that it's Stage 4S (without risk factor) and if it is they will surgically remove the adrenal gland and follow up with monthly tests that will include the following: urine samples, imaging tests (MRI's), and at first more bone marrow biopsies.

This is all very good news and even though we are still extremely concerned, we are buoyed by the results thus far and are grateful for the prayers and well wishes from our friends and family... including those of you here that have been so supportive during this hard time.  It's interesting... I am watching both my child and my grandbaby in pain... it is quite possibly the hardest thing I've ever endured... including my OWN cancer.

I guess the upshot of this is that while we are feeling ecstactic about the recent piece of good news... we still are asking for prayers and positive thoughts... not only for Ari but for all other families going through this kind of difficulty.  A child should never have to endure what these children go through... I've walked past far too many hospital rooms in the past month, containing children in pain, children alone, families who can't understand what the physician is telling them... and that is to say nothing about the children in countries without the health care that exists in the industrialized world.

Sorry to get so deep here... I just wanted to say thanks and to give those of you who have asked for an update, just that.

xoxo Rhonny and Candice and Clay and most importantly Ariyana

P.S.  Here's a photo taken today... even fighting cancer... her smile can't be dimmed!


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URL icon « Reply #12 on: June 08, 2008, 09:50:02 AM »

all my love to you and your family, I'll keep only good thoughts and wishes is my mind for her. she's such an angel!
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URL icon « Reply #13 on: June 08, 2008, 11:00:01 AM »

Rhonny,
I will keep you guys in my prayers. She is a sweet little thing. Give her tons of kisses for me. I also have a grand-daughter named Ari and my own daughter had an astrocytoma and adrenal tumor (benign) So I can feel your pain. Stay strong and ask all the questions you want until you can understand what they are telling you. Being in the medical profession sometimes we forget that not everyone went to medical school and so many Physicians just blow into the room chat for about two or three minutes and then bolt, So if you don't understand what they said, speak up. They can repeat it in a way that makes sense and they can take a few extra minutes to make sure you are comfortable.
Blessed Be,
Beth Flower

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URL icon « Reply #14 on: June 08, 2008, 12:08:31 PM »

Rhonny, you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.  Flower 
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