Stories of Hope
HOLLYN - Kicking Cancer
At five, Hollyn was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor of the kidney. She underwent major surgery to remove the cancerous tumor and her kidney with the tumor. Following surgery, she had chemotherapy and was NED (no evidence of disease) for fifteen months.
She relapsed at seven years old. This time, cancer was found in her lungs. High doses of chemotherapy and radiation were used. Hollyn also endured additional surgeries and stays at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
In October 2008, Hollyn relapsed for a third time. We scrambled to find a facility and team of doctors who could provide her with the best care and treatment. Ultimately, we determined that Children's was Hollyn's best chance. The plan was to treat her with more high dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous stem cell rescue (a bone marrow transplant).
This third battle was the toughest yet. We stayed for fifty days at Children's. Hollyn was unable to eat for months and has suffered lasting side effects.
Even through this tough battle, God has provided us a miracle. Hollyn has been cancer free for over a year, and she is doing great! She is in fourth grade (after missing a lot of school over the last four years, it has been very difficult for her to catch up, but she is holding her own). She loves to swim, take tae kwon do, and is quite an artist. She is a very positive and happy kid, who has a lot of spirit. Hollyn is the middle child of five, a three-time cancer survivor, and our sunshine.
She also has a big heart and has started her own organization called The Hair Fairies. She sends gifts to children with cancer. She also helps raise money and awareness for children with cancer and has spoken in Washington D.C. to try and get a bill passed for money for Reach the Day when no child has to hear the words: "You have cancer."
We thank God each day for her good health and healing. We continue to pray her cancer stays away forever and that her side effects diminish with each passing day.
