She is a living miracle!
As a mother of 3, I have had to face many challenges and shed many tears through the years. In December of 2007, I was faced with one of the hardest challenges a mother could ever face when my 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with cancer. It was not discovered with signs and symptoms like in most cases, but from a simple complaint of a back ache while walking in the grocery store. I told Kortney to wait in the car and I would be out shortly. Before we could get to the gouse, not even 10 minutes later, Kortney screamed in horror as she complained of having no feeling in either of her legs. She was rushed to the ER where she was sent home with what they thought was a pulled muscle. After still not being able to feel her legs the next day, I felt it was in Kortney’s best interest to get a second opinion. She was taken to Memorial Health in Savannah where she was admitted and after extensive test, we received the news on Christmas Eve, Kortney had a malignant stage 4 primitive neuroectodermal tumor in her spinal cord. That was a hard Christmas for Kortney, myself, and our family, but we spent it together in the hospital and made the best of it. The tumor was removed and treatment was started immediately. I had to quit my job to stay with Kortney in the hospital to fight this battle with her, not only physically but emotionally also. Even though Kortney was sick and in need for her mother’s support, I still had 2 other children at home, Brandon 12 and Austin 10. Which without the help of Richard, my finace at the time but now my husband, would not have been possible. He played the primary role in raising the boys while we were in the hospital since their father lives 300 miles away, though he visited as often as he could. After 3 weeks in Savannah, Kortney was transferred to Scottish Rite in Atlanta. There she received a combination of chemo, radiation, and extensive physical therapy. Kortney had to be transported by ambulance to Emory, Monday- Friday for chemo and radiation. She also spent 8 hours a day 7 days a week doing physical therapy. One of the hardest parts of facing to watch her go through treatment, was watching her lose what a girl loves most, her hair. We spent countless nights in the bed crying together as her hair fell out in clumps. We spent 4 months in Atlanta then were transferred back to Savannah where we finished up treatment after 6 months. In October 2009, we got the news Kortney was CANCER FREE!!!!!!!!! Even though the cancer was gone, it still left her unable to walk or voluntarily use her bladder or bowel. Kortney has to travel to Savannah every 3 months for a MRI. Though these trips and expenses are not covered by insurance, and come at hard times, at the same time a price can not be put on maintaining the health of a child! We are praying every day for a cure for childhood cancer!!!!
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