Tory11/18/2016
Long Beach, CA
WARRIOR'S Story
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At just 2 years old, Tory’s Mom, Tatum, was tickling Tory’s belly on a normal Wednesday morning when Tatum felt a mass hidden under Tory’s rib cage. That evening, Tory was admitted to the hospital, and within the week surgeons had removed a large Wilms Tumor in Tory’s kidney. It was childhood cancer.
Until the age of 3, Tory went through chemotherapy with no signs of cancer in her body. Tory’s doctors were confident that she had beaten it, and for the following two years, Tory was in remission. During remission, she was a thriving, healthy, and vibrant child. She adored preschool and friends and making up for the lost time of her challenging year. Tory was ecstatic about starting kindergarten, and in June already had her uniforms neatly folded in her drawer for September. Unfortunately, that summer, at the age of 5.5, a routine CT scan showed a small returning Wilms Tumor in her right lung.
Shocked and traumatized, Tory and her Mom Tatum were admitted to the hospital once again with a long journey ahead. Tory again underwent surgery to remove the tumor, and is now at the end of an intensive year of treatment. The chemotherapy and radiation have been much more intensive and serious this time due to the returning nature of the cancer.
Tory is clinically doing very well, and her prognosis is good. Her body is showing no signs of cancer in any of her scans since surgery, and after this intensive year of treatment, her doctors expect for her to attend the 1st grade and start making up for the difficult childhood that Tory has faced.
Tory and her family are gracious, tender, playful, and pure-hearted. Tory is also a very wise and thoughtful little lady. Please join us in embracing this sweet family as they work their way out of medical debt, hospital stays, chemotherapy, radiation, and the many blood transfusions – and into a lighter and brighter future.
Chris Vizzi
55 years ago