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Georgia's third cancer battle

Georgia's Cancer Journey.Georgia was diagnosed with Stage IV Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in her pelvis in December 2012 at 2 and a half years old. She had 4 rounds of intensive chemo at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) which shrunk the tumour and then had surgery. In between these harsh rounds Georgie was admitted to hospital with low blood counts (neutropenic) and infections several times. These admissions were very hard for our family as Georgie was diagnosed on our eldest daughter's 8th birthday and our twins were only 9 months old. Because Georgie was so young she couldn't be left alone so we tag teamed night and day stays between all of my wonderful family. Surgery was performed in March 2013 and they believed they had got most of the tumour but had to take some pelvic floor, which... may or may not cause complications. Thankfully she hasn't had any problems. Georgie had another 5 rounds of intensive chemo and 23 radiation treatments at Peter McCallum Cancer Institute. Georgie received bad radiation burns and was admitted for 2 weeks. Her burns were so severe even the Doctors were shocked.Georgie started maintenance chemo in June 2013 and was declared Cancer free. Maintenance was originally for 6 months but it was extended for another 6 months.Georgie tolerated maintenance well and we didn't have any admissions for 12 months. We finally finished treatment in July 2014. Georgie was off treatment for 16 weeks but relapsed with the same cancer but in her brain this time. Georgie is now 4 and a half years old. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a nasty, smart cancer, which keeps changing and evolving, even resisting chemo. In studies and previous cases of Rhabdo it doesn't characteristically go to the brain hence why we haven't been having routine scans on the brain.. Georgie had emergency surgery the day we relapsed and again recovered remarkably well. She started Radiation combined with chemo just before Christmas 2014. She breezed through that and began a new chemo cycle which again she tolerated well. Georgie had 17 cycles of an experimental drug bought in from Europe which wonderful Dr Jordan was able to get through the hospital as it was very expensive. Georgie finished treatment in January 2016 just in time to start school. Georgie had her port removed in December 2016 symbolising the end of her cancer journey.Georgie continued to have clear scans for 2 years but unfortunately she relapsed a second time, this time in her lungs. Georgie had surgery a week later and further tests checking if it has spread and what her options are. Thankfully the lung is the only issue. Now was to do?? We will have more radiation and more chemo but the odds are not in our favour and we have been told that it will most likely come back again and again. But the doctors don't know. They cant say what it has been doing for the past 2 years either. We still have hope. So we fight and fight until we have beaten this horrible disease. Cancer is not discriminative. No one should have to go through this especially at such a young age. Georgie is now 7 and a half years old and has been fighting for 5 years. On this journey Georgie has had 74 nights in hospital, 21 MRI's, 20 CT's, 3 PET Scans, 1 Bone Scan, 1 Lumbar Puncture, 3 Bone Marrow aspirations, 5 Echos, 10 Ultrasounds, 22 General Anaesthetic, 3 major surgeries and a port insertion and removal, 43 Radiation treatments (more to come), countless xrays, 5 blood transfusions, 2 Platelets plus hundreds of blood tests and many other tests with weekly trips to the hospital for clinic and treatment. She has had her hair fall out twice and needed some dental work done due to chemo damage. Georgie also broke her arm falling off the monkey bars which required surgery.Georgie still manages to keep a smile on her face and takes everything in her stride. She truly is a remarkable little girl who is co operative with the medical teams and goes above and behind what we ask of her and never EVER complains. Georgie would love the opportunity to go to Fiji. So it is my wish to take her there as a family to have some fun.Georgie is about to start daily radiation with her port being put back in and chemo will start. It will be tough again like the first time. We will hit it hard & hope to have a longer period of time without cancer so she can be a normal little girl as she deserves. Georgie will get very sick before she gets better. But we will fight it together & we will rise above this horrible disease.

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 6 yrs

Organizer

Angela Punturere
Organizer
Croydon VIC

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