Princess Teagan Grace - Brain Cancer Survivor


From her site http://... sweet little princess Teagan Grace Haniszewski came bursting into the world August 4, 2005 with a head full of curly dark hair and hazel eyes. She has been a continual joy and blessing to mom and dad, Carly&Bryant. She loves ballet and gymnastics (she calls it nastics) and playing outside at her water table. Teagan is a very happy girl who loves to laugh, and always answers with a please or thank you.In May of 2007, Teagan began having some intermittent vomiting and had trouble walking and standing up. We took her to the pediatrician on Friday June 1st for an 11:45 appointment. After hearing Teags symptoms the doctor sent us to Good Shepherd Hospital for a CT scan at 2:30 that revealed a largebrain tumor in the back of her head. The doctor sent us immediately to Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago where we were admitted through the Emergency Room.

After we arrived, the battery of tests and the reality of a world turned upside down began. A few hours later, Teagan was taken to the third floor of the hospital where they began to monitor her and prepare her for further testing. In the next 2 days, the neurosurgeons checked the CT scans and the MRI and planned to perform brain surgery on Monday. Prayers were answered as the MRI on the spine showed no evidence of tumor growth there. At about 2pm on Monday, June 4th, Teagan went into surgery and came out at about 10pm. After the surgery, Teagans neurosurgeon, Dr. Alden, told us that he removed all of the tumor, and thought the only part that might be left was less than a cc (basically on a cellular level). He also told us thatthe preliminary tests performed on the tumor showed it as Medulloblastoma, a cancerous form of brain tumor commonly found in children. Follow-up MRI confirmed that all the tumor had been removed.

After surgery, Teagan was brought to the Pediatric ICU of the hospital due to the length of the surgery. In the next few days, it appeared that Teagan had an issue with her right lung, and to this day, we really dont know what caused it. As the days progressed, we met with Teagans oncologist who confirmed the cancer was classic malignant Medulloblastoma. He said that he would do further testing to decide on a treatment plan for chemotherapy which could take 8-12 months.

As we prepared for what Teagan had to battle, it seemed that her lung issue was not improving, even though on some days she would be breathing on her own with room air. The x-rays that were done showed cloudiness in the lung and we were waiting to see if that would clear up.

The Sunday morning following surgery at about 3:30 am, Teagans right lung collapsed and had several micro holes which let air out into her body. The doctors then placed the breathing tube back into Teagan and then the left side of the lung also collapsed. The doctors then inserted chest tubes on the both sides of her chest to alleviate the air buildup in her body. Teagan was placed on an oscillator breathing machine to help her and given more medicines than I can count. At one point there were 20+ IV sets hanging at her bedside! With Gods help, Teagan fought through the pneumonia like the strong girl she is, as we prayed for the lungs to heal. After almost 2 weeks she was able to get off the oscillator onto a standard ventilator. She subsequently contracted a severe infection in her brain that was finally cleared up with much more prayerand intensive antibiotic therapy. She has had other set-backs and infections, but finally as of August 7th, she was able to breathe without the help of a respirator! And on August 14th, after 10 weeks (count em, 71 days!) in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Teagan Grace was moved to 3-West, the braintumor ward. On October 29th, Teagan was transferred to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for six weeks of intesive therapy.

After 7 months in the hospital, Teagan Grace came home on Dec. 14th, 2007 to spend Christmas with her family. What a Christmas miracle that was!!!

Teagan's chemo treatment concluded in March 2009 (about 19 months). She also had Proton Radiation at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas (6 weeks). Teagan continues her physical, occupational and speech therapy. She has a long road ahead but with many prayers we hope that she will be able to walk on her own and talk again very soon.

Teagan is getting back to what she loves, playing with her friends, saying her colors, and having fun at school. Some of her favorite times are playing outside at her water table and watching airplanes fly over her. We pray for the restoration of our precious Teagan, a happy girl who loves to laugh.

We will be updating frequently so please check back to hear the latest.







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