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Finding Cures. Saving Children.
Patient of the Month - February 2007
Nicholas Jeffries
6 years old
Diagnosis:
Nicholas was discovered to have rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2005. Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue tumor that can arise anywhere in the body.
Nicholas’ story:
On the basis of what she knows about her child, a mother hones her instincts to a fine point. When Nicholas complained that his side hurt him badly, Marica listened to her son’s words and determined to watch him closely. In the coming days, would he begin feeling better or worse? In time, Marica had her answer: something terrible was happening to Nicholas, hurting him from the inside out.
Marica and Reginald took their son to a local children’s hospital where doctors found two boils surrounding his appendix. He was admitted, and doctors did what they could to drain the abscesses.
When a mother takes her child to the hospital, she wants a diagnosis and a plan of action, but Marica didn’t have that peace of mind. She took her son home with no clear answers, and the uneasy feeling that her son wasn’t cured.
Nicholas’ pain came back with a vengeance, and the Jeffries family returned to the hospital. There Nicholas spent the next 28 days. Doctors removed his appendix and began to suspect that the abscesses were actually a form of tumor.
During this time, Nicholas’ stomach was incredibly distended. “Like he had swallowed a beach ball,” described Marica. But the effect was anything but comical.
The local doctor referred Nicholas to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Why are you sending us to St. Jude?” thought Marica. She didn’t want to believe that her child might have cancer.
At St. Jude
The family entered the doors at St. Jude terrified but praying for the best. After examining Nicholas, doctors explained to Marica and Reginald that their son suffered from rhabdomyosarcoma.
“When we heard ‘cancer,’ we heard that our baby was going to die,” said Marica. “That’s all I heard in my head: ‘My God, my baby is going to die.’”
The doctors gently discussed the treatment to come and said that they had great hope for Nicholas. By the end of the conversation, Marica and Reginald actually felt reassured.
Doctors installed a line in Nicholas’ small body and began chemotherapy.
“My baby threw up everywhere,” said Marica. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, he can’t take this.’”
At St. Jude, Nicholas endured 50 chemotherapy treatments and four weeks of radiation. “The nurses and the doctors were wonderful ,” said Marica. “I’ve never had that kind of first-class treatment in my life.” Nicholas is back home now, and doctors have declared him cancer free. He returns to the hospital every six months for checkups.
Nicholas loves to play football with his brother, watch SpongeBob SquarePants, spend time with his dog, eat pizza and go to school—normal stuff. Perhaps because of his experience, he’s sensitive to the needs of others and enjoys helping people.
Marica is excited to see her child thrive, and she thanks God for the generosity of those who give to the hospital. “They make it possible for a lot of children to have hope,” said Marica.
Editor’s Note: We regret to inform you that Nicholas passed away on January 21, 2009.
February 2007
