Support for Isaac & Family
Donation protected
Isaac, two years old, has been diagnosed with Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, a rare childhood cancer occurring in the chest, specifically in the lungs or in the coverings of the lungs called "pleura".
Isaac's mother is my student at the high school where I teach. Having worked closely with her this year, I have witnessed her dedication as a student, parent, and wife. Isaac's diagnosis has dealt this little family a devastating blow.
About the disease:
PPB is exceptionally rare, and few physicians have had any experience with it. At most, only 10-20 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, as compared to the many hundreds of cases of childhood leukemia. The cause of PPB is not known. Most cases, about 75%, are called “sporadic” which means that they occur in a child completely at random.
In Isaac's case he was seen by his pediatrician for difficulty breathing and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. A tennis-ball-size mass crowding his heart was removed. Pathology later indicated the presence of extremely aggressive cancer cells, so doctors have ordered scans for Isaac's bones, liver, and chest, and brain with three different scans and contrasts. The results will help determine Isaac's treatment protocol.
Families experiencing medical crises are sometimes too overwhelmed to ask for help or don’t have the energy to think about what they need. Friends and other networks might not even be sure what to do. A donation, no matter how small, will send a powerful message to Isaac's family that they are not alone and that others care.
Money raised will go directly to the family's needs: groceries, transportation, and medical expenses not covered by insurance.
As devout Christians, they have placed their faith in God and have placed Isaac's healing in Christ's hands. His treatment will take place at DC Children's Hospital and at Kaiser Permanente Specialists' Clinic.
Isaac's mother is my student at the high school where I teach. Having worked closely with her this year, I have witnessed her dedication as a student, parent, and wife. Isaac's diagnosis has dealt this little family a devastating blow.
About the disease:
PPB is exceptionally rare, and few physicians have had any experience with it. At most, only 10-20 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, as compared to the many hundreds of cases of childhood leukemia. The cause of PPB is not known. Most cases, about 75%, are called “sporadic” which means that they occur in a child completely at random.
In Isaac's case he was seen by his pediatrician for difficulty breathing and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. A tennis-ball-size mass crowding his heart was removed. Pathology later indicated the presence of extremely aggressive cancer cells, so doctors have ordered scans for Isaac's bones, liver, and chest, and brain with three different scans and contrasts. The results will help determine Isaac's treatment protocol.
Families experiencing medical crises are sometimes too overwhelmed to ask for help or don’t have the energy to think about what they need. Friends and other networks might not even be sure what to do. A donation, no matter how small, will send a powerful message to Isaac's family that they are not alone and that others care.
Money raised will go directly to the family's needs: groceries, transportation, and medical expenses not covered by insurance.
As devout Christians, they have placed their faith in God and have placed Isaac's healing in Christ's hands. His treatment will take place at DC Children's Hospital and at Kaiser Permanente Specialists' Clinic.
Organizer
Cecilia Carr
Organizer
Centreville, VA
