I am looking for a condo, house, or carriage house to rent next week during spring break. My 5 year old is a cancer patient and we just found out he won't be on treatment next week, so we are trying to get to the beach. Please see Will's story below, and let me know if anything is available.
Melody Abernathy
770-378-6749
Will Abernathy, age 4 is battling neuroblastoma stage IV cancer. He led a very healthy and active life until he developed symptoms a month prior to diagnosis. We were all in a state of shock and disbelief over Will's diagnosis. How could this happen to a perfectly happy and healthy little boy? At 31 months, in November 2010, Will's diagnosis was confirmed and our lives were changed forever.
While neuroblastoma is the most common childhood cancer, only 1 in 100,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. Will has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, plus a tumor resection on his left adrenal gland, a round of outpatient chemo, and numerous ER admissions for fever and blood and platelet transfusions. Will had a central venous line (CVL) that threaded inside the vein to his heart where he received his treatments, blood transfusions, and IV fluids. After having the line for seven months, Will got an infection in it and the line was removed. It was replaced with a port a little over a month later.
Will’s response to the first 6 standard rounds of chemo was not what the doctors were hoping for. His scan results showed only a partial response to the chemo with little change and his doctor did not feel that he was ready to move on to stem cell, which was the next step on Will’s protocol. Will's treatment plan took a different path and he was sent to CHOP-Children's Healthcare of Philadelphia to continue treatment with 131I-MIBG therapy offered at only six hospitals in the nation. Will completed his first cycle of 131I-MIBG therapy on May 10, 2011 and MIBG scans performed 7 weeks later still showed stable disease with no change. Will and his family returned to CHOP for a second cycle of 131I-MIBG therapy on June 12, 2011 in hopes that he would go on to respond after two treatments. His scan in August still showed stable disease with no change. In September of 2011, Will began the clinical trial PF 0234-1066, also known as Crizotinib. The drug was developed by Pfizer to work as an ALK-attacking compound to work on patients whose patients whose tumors had an ALK mutation. Dr. John Maris began working on this idea 20 years ago at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia believing that genes would offer hope for neuroblastoma. Will’s doctor in Philadelphia, Dr. Yael Mosse, discovered that ALK was the gene that carried the mutation in 2008. She suggested that Will begin this study immediately after the MIBG scans in Philadelphia. Thankfully, this study was also offered at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, so Will and his family didn’t have to travel back and forth to Philadelphia. After 10 cycles of the Crizotinib and indicating stable disease and clear bone marrow, scans performed in June 2012 showed a new spot and Will was taken off of the drug. Will's care was then placed in the hands of Dr. Giselle Sholler at Helen DeVos Cildren's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI where Will began the targeted study, DFMO. After just 2 cycles, scans showed that Will's cancer had spread even more, and he was immediately taken off the drug and enrolled in a new chemo treatment that unfortunately had more side effects. Will developed an infection while on the trial & because his disease didn't show a great enough response, he was removed from the study. Will & his family then traveled back to Philadelphia for a 3rd MIBG therapy. When Will began the experimental drugs in the fall of 2011, his quality of life improved dramatically. The drugs he was taking caused minimal side effects, and the goal is to get Will's disease stable again and enroll him in a treatment program that will give him a great quality of life.
Will's story is unique because, not only has to endure harsh treatments & side effects for the past 28 months, but he also suffered the loss of his maternal grandfather, "Pop," just 9 months ago unexpectedly. Pop, who was like a father to Will, & his "best friend," was a carpenter & constantly worked on projects for Will during his visits from Arkansas. Will's parents are also going through an unplanned divorce, which is another adjustment for Will. Will shows amazing strength & maturity with each new challenge he faces. He has adapted to each new normal that has come his way. Will may have cancer, but he goes to preschool, church, and takes gymnastics.
With his blonde curly locks, bright blue eyes, and affectionate, care-free personality, Will is a true joy to everyone in his life, both family and friends. We are so thankful that he has handled each treatment so well. We cherish every day that we have with him. His life is in the hands of God as well as the very skilled staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Giselle Sholler.
Melody Abernathy
770-378-6749
Will Abernathy, age 4 is battling neuroblastoma stage IV cancer. He led a very healthy and active life until he developed symptoms a month prior to diagnosis. We were all in a state of shock and disbelief over Will's diagnosis. How could this happen to a perfectly happy and healthy little boy? At 31 months, in November 2010, Will's diagnosis was confirmed and our lives were changed forever.
While neuroblastoma is the most common childhood cancer, only 1 in 100,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. Will has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, plus a tumor resection on his left adrenal gland, a round of outpatient chemo, and numerous ER admissions for fever and blood and platelet transfusions. Will had a central venous line (CVL) that threaded inside the vein to his heart where he received his treatments, blood transfusions, and IV fluids. After having the line for seven months, Will got an infection in it and the line was removed. It was replaced with a port a little over a month later.
Will’s response to the first 6 standard rounds of chemo was not what the doctors were hoping for. His scan results showed only a partial response to the chemo with little change and his doctor did not feel that he was ready to move on to stem cell, which was the next step on Will’s protocol. Will's treatment plan took a different path and he was sent to CHOP-Children's Healthcare of Philadelphia to continue treatment with 131I-MIBG therapy offered at only six hospitals in the nation. Will completed his first cycle of 131I-MIBG therapy on May 10, 2011 and MIBG scans performed 7 weeks later still showed stable disease with no change. Will and his family returned to CHOP for a second cycle of 131I-MIBG therapy on June 12, 2011 in hopes that he would go on to respond after two treatments. His scan in August still showed stable disease with no change. In September of 2011, Will began the clinical trial PF 0234-1066, also known as Crizotinib. The drug was developed by Pfizer to work as an ALK-attacking compound to work on patients whose patients whose tumors had an ALK mutation. Dr. John Maris began working on this idea 20 years ago at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia believing that genes would offer hope for neuroblastoma. Will’s doctor in Philadelphia, Dr. Yael Mosse, discovered that ALK was the gene that carried the mutation in 2008. She suggested that Will begin this study immediately after the MIBG scans in Philadelphia. Thankfully, this study was also offered at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, so Will and his family didn’t have to travel back and forth to Philadelphia. After 10 cycles of the Crizotinib and indicating stable disease and clear bone marrow, scans performed in June 2012 showed a new spot and Will was taken off of the drug. Will's care was then placed in the hands of Dr. Giselle Sholler at Helen DeVos Cildren's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI where Will began the targeted study, DFMO. After just 2 cycles, scans showed that Will's cancer had spread even more, and he was immediately taken off the drug and enrolled in a new chemo treatment that unfortunately had more side effects. Will developed an infection while on the trial & because his disease didn't show a great enough response, he was removed from the study. Will & his family then traveled back to Philadelphia for a 3rd MIBG therapy. When Will began the experimental drugs in the fall of 2011, his quality of life improved dramatically. The drugs he was taking caused minimal side effects, and the goal is to get Will's disease stable again and enroll him in a treatment program that will give him a great quality of life.
Will's story is unique because, not only has to endure harsh treatments & side effects for the past 28 months, but he also suffered the loss of his maternal grandfather, "Pop," just 9 months ago unexpectedly. Pop, who was like a father to Will, & his "best friend," was a carpenter & constantly worked on projects for Will during his visits from Arkansas. Will's parents are also going through an unplanned divorce, which is another adjustment for Will. Will shows amazing strength & maturity with each new challenge he faces. He has adapted to each new normal that has come his way. Will may have cancer, but he goes to preschool, church, and takes gymnastics.
With his blonde curly locks, bright blue eyes, and affectionate, care-free personality, Will is a true joy to everyone in his life, both family and friends. We are so thankful that he has handled each treatment so well. We cherish every day that we have with him. His life is in the hands of God as well as the very skilled staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Giselle Sholler.