Josie Claire was officially diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma 09/29/10 but her Momma first heard the words, "Josie has cancer" on 09/22/10. I was so excited and proud. I was the typical Mom, clicking as many photos as I could. Getting ready, breakfast, before the bus with everyone, on the bus, getting off the bus.... well, you get the picture. Later that day I was reminiscing about her big day and
looked through the pictures. It was that day, 08/23/10, that I noticed something kinda odd about her right eye. Little did we know, one month later, she would begin the battle for her life. After a couple of weeks this "thing" in the corner of her eye continued to grow. We had consulted her Pediatrician on several occasions. She threw everything at it she could. Nothing helped. The "thing" kept growing. We needed a Pediatric Ophthalmologist but couldn't get an appointment until mid-October. I even took her to two Emergency Rooms in one day. Both refused to help even though I knew they had the ability to call in an Ophthalmologist at will. We were sent home. Frustrated and unable to give up, we call our Pediatrician again. She and her office staff worked to get Josie seen in Ashland by Dr. Epling and Dr. Gross. They took one look at her and told us we needed to go to a children's hospital because, "It could be serious."
09/22/10 - Less than one week later we were sitting at Nationwide Children's Hospital Ophthalmology unaware of what the day would bring. I thought maybe it was a cyst and had to be surgically drained. After Dr. Cassaday's initial exam she said Josie needed and MRI - immediately. We quickly went downstairs and waited on her turn. She was sedated and rolled back for her test. The wait seemed like forever but after a half hour, Josie was rolled back out to me. She lay there sleeping, in her medicine induced slumber, oblivious to the sobbing of her Momma. Shortly after she was rolled out to me the doctor called. All I remember was, "I have talked to the Radiologist on call and - Josie has a malignant tumor we believe to be Rhabdomyosarcoma." Malignant. But that means cancer - doesn't it. Not my daughter. Not my innocent 5 year old Josie Claire. Alas, it was true. The next couple hours we consulted with a surgeon. The next day we met with an Oncologist. Still - I was confused and numb. We filled out paperwork for programs, talked with a social worker, still I thought maybe they were wrong. I didn't speak a word of it to anyone but Josie's dad, my brother, Jarrod and my Dad. I swore everyone to secrecy. No one would speak a word of this until we were sure.
09/29/10 - Mum went with us to Columbus for her surgery. All she and anyone else knew was that we were going for the doctor to remove the "thing." We had asked for prayer but nothing specific. Her Dad and I had talked a lot that week. We had both done our research and made out our questions. We were ready. Josie went back for surgery and we sat there - knowing in our hearts that our sweet daughter, our first born, was going through the first of many procedures. The doctor came out and confirmed our greatest fear. Rhabdomyosarcoma. Our onslaught of questions began and were answered without hesitation. It only took about 10 minutes. He and I (divorced for almost 2 years) bowed our heads and said a prayer. We walked out and gave the news to the friends and family waiting. After all the tears and hugs, there were questions, so many questions. He and I simply handed over the research we had done and let them read it. And so it began.
