Name: Brook
Diagnosis: atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT)
When Brook was 18 months old, her parents, Melissa and Brian, noticed Brook kept tilting her head to the right.
They didn't worry too much at first, but when Brook continued to tilt her head and also seemed off balance, they became concerned. And when Brook's right eye turned inward, Melissa knew something was terribly wrong. For weeks, Brook was in and out of the doctor's office, her family desperate for answers. Melissa is a registered nurse, so it was both her mother's instinct and her training that prompted her to ask for a CT scan and an MRI.
The results were devastating: Brook had a rare and aggressive brain tumor identified as atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). She underwent a nine-and-a-half-hour surgery where doctors removed most of the tumor. While Brook recovered, her parents reviewed the doctor's treatment protocol, which seemed harsh for such a young child. "All I could think about was how sick Brooke would be," Melissa said. "We wanted her cured, but not at the risk of being too sick to function." Melissa and Brian decided to search for alternative treatment for their daughter. Their search led them to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
At St. Jude:
A week after her arrival at St. Jude, Brook underwent a second brain surgery, followed by four months of chemotherapy and radiation. "She's a little miracle," Melissa said. "If we'd stayed home, I don't think she'd still be with us." Brook spent her summer at home with her sisters, swimming and playing. She continued oral chemotherapy and visited St. Jude for regular checkups.
Recently, Brook's family learned her cancer has returned, and they are back at St. Jude. Melissa is grateful for the care Brook continues to receive. "We just think the people who donate to St. Jude are amazing," she said. "The care, the treatment, everything is the best. St. Jude is like home."
November 2008
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