Cancer is a four letter word.......

So the first 5 months were pretty hard. Getting Kasia to eat was becoming next to impossible and even when she did, it would usually just come right back up. On the day of her christening it had gotten to the point that something had to be done. She was throwing up all the time and taking in as little as 4 ounces of formula a day. Our pediatrician sent us straight to the hospital the following day and Kasia was admitted for tests to look for an explanation. Everyone's best guess was that she had some sort of blockage in either her esophagus or intestinal tract which was making it difficult for her to keep food down and causing her incredible reflux. An ultrasound was performed to check for the probable blockage.

Instead, they found a mass in her abdomen.

Then came the CT scan, followed by an MRI - neither of which could pinpoint where the mass was located. We were initially told that it was in her pancreas (but not told that pancreatic cancer is the least survivable cancer). Needless to say, within a few days we were on our way to Sick Kids and on October 17, 2005 Kasia underwent surgery. The tumor, which turned out to be a hepatoblastoma liver tumor, was completely removed because it was discovered so early. (Most hepatoblastomas are not discovered until the age of 18 months - 3 years of age, and by then a complete resection is usually not possible). A decision then had to be made as to whether or not we would not proceed with chemotherapy due to Kasia's already increased risk for heart, kidney, growth and hearing problems as a result of her genetic condition.


The decision to not do chemotherapy was certainly the most difficult one we've ever had to make. Should we pump our already fragile daughter full of toxic chemo which could potentially leave her with an even more decreased quality of life? Or do we not give her chemo and risk having the cancer return? No one should have to make that decision.


With the guidance of one incredible doctor we chose the latter and for us it was the right choice. It's now going on 3 years since the tumor was removed. Kasia still endures regular blood tests, ultrasounds, chest x-rays and check ups but so far, the cancer has not returned and we're hopeful that it never will. The only remnant that remains is the large boomerang shaped scar that stretches across her belly.

The doctors say that her recovery has been extraordinary. To them we say, we're not surprised - so far nearly everything about Kasia can be only be considered as extraordinary.