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Finding Cures. Saving Children.
Patient of the Month
May 2008
Clay Trysla
1 year old
Diagnosis:
Clay was found to suffer from primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) in September 2007.
Clay's Story:
Kristin and Patrick describe their precious 1-year-old son as a typical Gerber® baby – healthy, happy and alert. His sisters adore him and, like any boy, he’s into everything. But in September 2007, Clay’s mom became worried when her baby's cheerful demeanor suddenly disappeared.
The little boy became fussy and began sleeping up to 12 hours at a time. Then his left arm went limp and his mother immediately took Clay to the pediatrician. The doctor dismissed her concerns as nothing more than nursemaid’s elbow. In spite of her uneasy feelings, Clay's mom took him home. But less than 24 hours later, Clay began throwing up. This time, his parents took him to an emergency room where they learned the devastating news that Clay had an aggressive tumor on his brain. Doctors operated immediately and were able to remove the tumor. But follow-up care was needed. Knowing that their baby's survival depended on getting the best possible care, the family researched their options. They found St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Clay's mom prayed for a sign that this was the right place for their baby. The sign she prayed for came the next day, when a friend unexpectedly showed up on the family's doorstep with a St. Jude medallion that had been given to her. Her friend had felt compelled to bring the medallion to the Tryslas. Kristin told her husband, "We need to be at St. Jude. That's where we are supposed to go."
At St. Jude:
Clay had an MRI as soon as the family arrived at St. Jude. Clay's parents were very distressed to find out that the scan showed the tumor had grown back quickly and was larger than it had been before his first surgery at the local hospital. St. Jude doctors determined Clay needed a second surgery to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Within six hours of his surgery at St. Jude, Clay was sitting up, smiling and eating. Clay began chemotherapy, followed by 30 radiation treatments. Clay also received physical and occupational therapy several times a week. He is home now and undergoing six months of oral chemotherapy.
Kristin believes coming to St. Jude saved her son’s life, and she is thankful for the donors who help support St. Jude. “Clay is a miracle,” Kristin said. “I can’t thank the donors enough because St. Jude is a huge part of this miracle. If we hadn’t come here, we wouldn’t have him today.”
Clay is once again the very picture of a Gerber baby – pink cheeked and bright-eyed. He likes to play with his sisters and watch the fish swim in the aquariums at St. Jude.
May 2008
