|
|
 |
|
Return to Cory's pictures Go to the Picture Gallery |
| Dear JHC, Cory was only two years old when on the morning of June 12, 1999, he complained of a severe headache and he had a slight tilt to his head. By evening, I was very concerned, so I called the doctor for an appointment. The next day I took him in to see the doctor. The doctor checked him over and scheduled a CT scan and an MRI for that same day. The test revealed that he had a lesion (tumor) attached to his brain stem. By the time evening came, Cory was unable to stand up on his own and he could not swallow. He was in so much pain that the doctors had to put him on Morphine. Surgery was scheduled for the next morning, the 14th of June 1999. During surgery, a frozen section of the lesion was taken and sent to the lab to be analyzed and it came back positive for cancer. Cory was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer known as 'EPENDYMOMA'. This rare type of cancer only occurs in children, age five and under. As a result of the disease Cory is paralyzed on his right side and is now confined to a wheelchair. Out of a 'study' done which included Cory, he is the only survivor. Doctors do not know much about EPENDYMOMA. They do know, however, that it is not environmental and it is not hereditary. As to the survival rate, the disease is so rare, that currently there are not enough numbers to have true reading on these statistics. There simply is no accurate way of predicting how long Cory will live. Some children in various studies had gone into full recession and still they lost the battle. Since the onset of this disease, Cory has had two attempts at full recession. His therapy has consisted of 8 courses of high dose chemotherapy, 35 doses of radiation, numbers of red blood cell transfusions and platelet transfusions and he still has a 1/2" to a 1 inch piece of the tumor sitting on his brain stem. Specialists say that Cory is now untouchable; another operation would most likely kill him. Among other things, his little body has been subjected to a 'hackman line' for chemotherapy treatments and to a GT-feeding tube. Still, Cory is a typical little boy who loves to watch cartoons, especially Scooby-Doo! He likes 'dirt bikes and 4 wheelers. He loves horses and dogs, although we don't have either. Cory is also a big John Wayne fan; he loves to watch western movies! Believe it or not the one thing that Cory dislikes more than anything else is, "White Lab Coats". Even though, the overall outlook for Cory's future is uncertain... each and every day that we get to keep him is a blessing. The one thing that has been made certain to us is that if the 'residual' ever changes in any way (grows), within no more than a couple of weeks, Cory will be with God! Thank you very much for all that you have been able to do for us... Adriane, Cory's Mom |