When It All Started
When Danny was dx with cancer on January 15, 1999, I just completed a term as a personal secretary for an elected county official and was beginning the term with another elected county official and Danny and I had moved into our first apartment together. I just bought a car, we were off of public assistance and I was dating a wonderful man. One night I was bathing Danny and noticed a large mass in his abdomen. There was no warning. BOOM! Danny had cancer (Wilms Tumor). My life, which was coming together so nicely, was violently shattered overnight. The only way I could deal with Danny's cancer was with the support of my family, boy friend (whom I married last February 14, 1999, and who is currently in the process of adopting Danny), coworkers, tranquilizers, and I doubled up on my Prozac and I had to continue working so I would keep our health insurance. Danny underwent the National Wilms Tumor Study Group DD4-A protocol, which included chemotherapy, abdominal/spinal radiation and surgery. Not only did Danny lose his right kidney, but the tumor occluded 15 cm of his inferior vena cava (fortunately, the blood is being carried to his heart through collatoral veins so he did not need inferior vena cava reconstruction), his right jugular vein, and appendix during this 8 hour surgery. Post-surgical pathology indicated Danny has focal anaplasia, which is unfavorable. I understand from one of the lead doctors of the National Wilms Tumor Study Group that Danny stands out with his cancer as he is the only child within this study group of 5,000 that has focal anaplasia with a PRE-OP occluded inferior vena cava and Azyogos Vein Compensation. There are only 7 children within this group that has focal anaplasia with inferior vena cava involvement. Since Danny has a radical re-circulation of his blood flow, he remains on daily aspirin therapy. Danny was treated at Primary Childrens Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.