texastwinmom
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2012
Hi Everyone! I'm thrilled to be posting here! 
I'm Melissa, my husband and I have 6 year old twin boys Aiden & Brandon. Brandon is my wish child, we were just informed last week his Oncologist had referred a Wish for him and he was approved! 
At about 9 months old I noticed Brandons stomach was distended and he was crying more than usual. I brought him to the pedi, said it was just gas and sent home, I brought him back a couple weeks later saying it was NOT just gas and his stomach felt a bit "hard." So we were sent for the ultrasound that changed out world. You know it's bad when the scan tech leaves the room with a pale face and comes back with head of radiology. That man calmly told me not to panic but I needed to take my son to a specific Oncologist at Dallas Childrens Medical Center, that they were waiting for us and we needed to go now. I was sick and trying to hold it together during that drive.
He was admitted right away for labs and scheduled for a liver biopsy, the next day he was diagnosed with Stage III Hepatoblastoma, a rare 1 in a million childhood cancer and was given a 40% survival chance. Since that time, he's had 13 surgeries, more scans and labs than I can count, 1 relapse and a full year of harsh chemo that involved many inpatient stays due to fevers/side effects. Eventually it was deemed only a full liver transplant would save his life, he was very quickly listed at a high priority status and within 3 weeks, on Mothers Day, we got *the call* that his perfect match was found. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston sent their life flight jet to pick us up at 2AM and off we went! His new liver has given him a second chance at life and we are grateful for every day he remains cancer free! We hit some bumps in the road now with the life of a transplant patient, but every day from here on out is a miracle!
Our MAW Coordinator said it could be a few weeks before we can get the ball rolling and have him make his official wish, he has always had his heart set on Disney, it will be our first family vacation and I can't wait to start planning and see the smiles on my boys faces once we get there!
Here's a few pics:
Brandon about 2 months before transplant, always happy!
<a
1 week after transplant, smiliest kid on the transplant floor!
Me and my boys!
My cuties today!
I'm Melissa, my husband and I have 6 year old twin boys Aiden & Brandon. Brandon is my wish child, we were just informed last week his Oncologist had referred a Wish for him and he was approved! At about 9 months old I noticed Brandons stomach was distended and he was crying more than usual. I brought him to the pedi, said it was just gas and sent home, I brought him back a couple weeks later saying it was NOT just gas and his stomach felt a bit "hard." So we were sent for the ultrasound that changed out world. You know it's bad when the scan tech leaves the room with a pale face and comes back with head of radiology. That man calmly told me not to panic but I needed to take my son to a specific Oncologist at Dallas Childrens Medical Center, that they were waiting for us and we needed to go now. I was sick and trying to hold it together during that drive.
He was admitted right away for labs and scheduled for a liver biopsy, the next day he was diagnosed with Stage III Hepatoblastoma, a rare 1 in a million childhood cancer and was given a 40% survival chance. Since that time, he's had 13 surgeries, more scans and labs than I can count, 1 relapse and a full year of harsh chemo that involved many inpatient stays due to fevers/side effects. Eventually it was deemed only a full liver transplant would save his life, he was very quickly listed at a high priority status and within 3 weeks, on Mothers Day, we got *the call* that his perfect match was found. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston sent their life flight jet to pick us up at 2AM and off we went! His new liver has given him a second chance at life and we are grateful for every day he remains cancer free! We hit some bumps in the road now with the life of a transplant patient, but every day from here on out is a miracle!
Our MAW Coordinator said it could be a few weeks before we can get the ball rolling and have him make his official wish, he has always had his heart set on Disney, it will be our first family vacation and I can't wait to start planning and see the smiles on my boys faces once we get there!
Here's a few pics:
Brandon about 2 months before transplant, always happy!
<a
1 week after transplant, smiliest kid on the transplant floor!
Me and my boys!
My cuties today!
Yea that has to be a pretty hard job somedays 
