website

Sydney

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:51:28 GMT

When Sydney was born, she was perfect – healthy and beautiful. she was everything you could ever want in a child and more. Shortly after her second birthday and after a month of cold-like symptoms followed by some pain in her legs, we discovered a grapefruit-sized tumor in her abdomen. Our family’s world came crashing down. Sydney was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma, a deadly cancer with no known cause or cure. In the days to come, we would learn that Sydney had between a 15% and 25% chance at survival. From that moment on, our lives would become a roller coaster of feelings and emotion.

Over the next four years of our journey, Sydney would endure over nine rounds of high-dose chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, a stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of radiation and an unending barrage of painful immunotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy. We would travel back and forth across the country to receive treatment, and along the way we would meet hundreds of others who were on our same path. Unfortunately, Sydney would lose many friends to neuroblastoma.

Today Sydney is in the 2nd grade. For some reason, we have been given the gift and privilege of her life. Today she is in remission, but we know her future holds no guarantees. More than half of those that achieve remission will relapse and most of those will eventually succumb to the disease. These children deserve better.

Tori

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:51:27 GMT

We can’t believe that it has been almost three years since Tori’s treatment at Cook Children’s Medical Center! This year has brought many great changes for her. In July 2008 Tori had her MRI to check to see if her cancer was still in remission – and it is. She is now celebrating her 3rd year cancer free and we praise the Lord for that! Her physical therapy (ballet) continues to bring her closer to the level of other kids her age and she is becoming accustomed to life with hearing aids. Tori started to run this summer and loves to be chased by her big brother and little sister. We don’t take her walking for granted at all. It is definitely a gift given to her by God after not walking for almost three months and never knowing if she would regain her ability to walk again.

Tori started kindergarten in August and just turned 6 years old this month. She loves to dance, sing, play dress up and “school” with her little sister (where she always wants to be the teacher since she gets to tell everyone what to do). She continues to receive treatment for iron overload, but we hope to finish that treatment and get her port removed in February 2009. Our family hopes to return as missionaries to Romania in the summer of 2009. Tori is working hard on learning the language again. Her favorite song, which has also been her motto through all she has gone through is “God is so good”. We are challenged not just as family, but as a community of families that are faced with neuroblastoma everyday by the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Olivia

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:51:27 GMT

Olivia was diagnosed at age 2 in February of 2005 with Stage IV high risk Neuroblastoma. This brave little girl has endured 6 rounds of chemo, 5 surgeries, high-dose chemo followed by stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of radiation 6 rounds of immunotherapy, 6 rounds of oral chemo, a fluke brain surgery, and two relapse scares. She is now five and has been cancer-free for over two years. It is no coincidence that Olivia’s middle name is Faith because God taught us this lesson through her. Faith isn’t only believing, it is trusting. We trusted God, the true healer, to get our family through this nightmare called cancer with the support and prayers of our friends and family. Olivia is now in Kindergarten and taking her second year of ballet and tap classes. She enjoys playing with her friends and has an amazing spirit for being happy and making the most of each day the Lord has blessed her with. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

It is our hope that more research will result in new treatments, minimizing the harmful effects of standard treatment for Neuroblastoma. Olivia grew very little for 2 years, not a rare problem for Neuroblastoma patients. Current treatments are not only harmful on patients’ bodies, but also on their families. New, improvements could reduce the stress placed on these families fighting for their children’s lives. Thank you for caring for these children and investing in their lives and the lives of their families.

Alaina

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:51:27 GMT

Alaina is such a princess! She loves anything pink, frilly, and girlie. She loves putting on make-up and brushing her new hair - hair that's growing and growing now that she's out of treatment! It's hard to believe it has been almost 2 ½ years since doctors told us on May 31st, 2006 that she had stage 4 neuroblastoma. After 8 rounds of chemo, 15 sessions of radiation, 2 bone marrow transplants, and countless surgeries, she is now in remission. She has been through so much and come out the other side feeling and looking great. We feel like we have our little girl back. We are so blessed to have her healthy.
Alaina finished treatment at the end of November 2007. Every two to three months she has scans to make sure that the cancer is staying away and that all is well. We are currently looking into a study involving a neuroblastoma vaccine at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. This vaccine has shown promise in preventing a relapse and we hope that she can qualify.

She's now an active 2nd grader, a beautiful ballerina, an artist, an annoying little sister (sometimes), a loving daughter, and an all around cutie. We appreciate all those in our community, families, and church who have been there for us every step of the way. Thank you so much for the many thoughts and prayers that have been said. She couldn't have made it without them! We also thank God every day for our miracle.

Title 4

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:49:43 GMT

Aute irurem dolor sim repreheder nvoptate velit cillum. more

Title 3

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:49:43 GMT

Aute irurem dolor sim repreheder nvoptate velit cillum. more

Title 2

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:15:23 GMT

Aute irurem dolor sim repreheder nvoptate velit cillum.

Sydney

Mark Dungan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:09:13 GMT