Soumaila, squamous cell carcinoma

It was sad to see this sweet boy go home. If we could have figured out how to make it so he still needed treatment, we would have kept him forever. 

He is so precious. He could repeat any English sentence you told him. (I've tried several times to upload some videos of this but it won't work.) He would always run errands for us. You could ask him where someone was and he knew. He was aware of all the comings and goings of people, whether that was staff or patients.

pumping up soccer balls with a visitor, Patrick

We talked to his father when he came to pick him up to make sure he would go to school. He is so bright we  didn't want him to be healed but not get an education. The father has promised to send him and we (several from the hospital) are committed to providing whatever he will need financially to go to school.

It is always bittersweet to see these kids go. Happy for their healing but sad for the void that is left at the hospital. Yet, more kids will come and fill in those gaps and steal our hearts, even when we think there could be no others as precious as the ones that leave.

Afternoon Drive

After the kids have stayed at the hospital for awhile, they start wanting to explore more places, ie our houses.  So they all hopped in the car with Brett to come visit. Brett called me to tell me to open the gate and as I opened our front door to walk outside I could hear chanting, "Sheri, Sheri, Sheri!"and I knew we had visitors. 

They were thrilled to see our house, except for the dogs. We had locked them up in the goat pen but they got out and all the kids freaked out. But aside from that this mishap, they all enjoyed seeing the toubab's house.

I love Adiara's face here. She's looking at our neighbor as if to say, "Why are you looking at me? Leave us alone. This is OUR car." :)

These are some of the special times we get to have living here. I don't think any US hospital would let us just drive off with 5 patients and two extra kids in the car, just because, especially since we didn't even ask their parents. :)

Kadia (leukemia) is D.O.N.E.!!!!

 After two years of coming each month for a dose of Vincristine and a refill on her daily medications, she is finally ALL DONE! I cannot believe it has been over two years that we have treated this sweet girl.

She has really started to grow up, she's getting taller and looking really good. She will always be my girl. How can you not be head over heals in love with her?

On day of arrival and diagnosis

During her induction chemo, feeling awful

All done!

As you can see, the kiddos have eaten their fill of tootsie rolls and various other candies. They come to me daily for their candy ration. We maybe treating their cancer or various other aliments but we definitely aren't helping their teeth. :) (Honestly, though, Carol is a dental hygienist and she has worked on all the kids' teeth that have lived at the hospital for any period of time. They do all have tooth brushes now.)

I will miss seeing my little girl each month but oh so thankful that she is in remission and doing well!

Josué (Osteosarcoma) and Habi (Ovarian Burkitt's Lymphoma) finished treatment

In December (how can I be this late in posting??) Josué and Habi finished their chemo treatments. We celebrated with cake, their choice. They really did well and it is sad that they are no longer at the hospital, sad for us, good for them! :)

Habi was actually quite sad to leave us and didn't really want to go. I am thankful that despite their treatment, loads of shots and lumbar punctures that they come away knowing that they are loved and valued. In some ways, that is the best thing we can give them.

Our little party with Soumailla (Squamous cell skin cancer on his scalp) and Chaka (double amputee) and Jessica. Jessica and Kristen's office is the hang out spot for inpatient kids who are staying for long periods of time.

Josué at arrival

Finished with chemo, eating his celebratory cake :)

Josué being Josué. He was a silly kid. It definitely took time for him to warm up to me, but I think he did. He would joke with me all the time. :) I do think he came around. He is now back in his village walking on his prosthetic leg and doing well.

Koutiala Pediatric Sickle cell and Cancer Blog

Our current visitor and good friend pediatric hematologist-oncologist Alan Anderson has been updating his blog during the last 2 weeks here in Mali. There are some great pictures and updates about how our children with cancer and sickle cell are doing, as well as how we are screening more and more children for sickle cell to prevent early childhood death and disability. Be sure to check out this wonderful blog:

http://footprintsinmali.blogspot.com/

Adjara: Hodgkin's Lymphoma but responding great to chemo

Burkitt's Lymphoma: 4 new children in 1 week

Burkitt's Lymphoma is the fastest growing type of cancer. In two months it can grow from the size of a pea to that of these masses below completely disfiguring the face. This type of Burkitt's lymphoma, preferentially arising near the jawbones is seen solely in countries where malaria is present although the exact reason for the link hasn't been fully proven. Thankfully it responds very quickly to chemotherapy and if all 6 courses, including 9 doses directly into the spinal fluid, are completed, the chance of cure is > 95%. In our first week after returning from our temporary withdrawal to Burkina Faso, we received 4 new cases of Burkitt's. Three of the jaw and 1 of the ovaries, which is another frequent location for Burkitt's in Africa. Three of these four also had metastases throughout the abdomen which will typically also disappear with chemotherapy. 

Here are 2 of the 4 at their arrival followed by a group picture of all four accompanied by our other patient with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

Bourama at arrival. His abdomen was full of large masses as well.

Adama's bilateral facial masses had rapidly progressed over 2 months  before they heard about our hospital, despite living over 2 hours away.

Left to Right: 

Maimouna: Burkitts of the ovaries now post surgery for removal and biopsy. Started chemotherapy 2 days ago. 

Ajara: Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Doing amazingly well after 2 cycles. Rides a push scooter all over pediatrics like she owns the place. : )  She had failed 1st line Hodgkin's chemo so she is on a more aggressive protocol now.

Bourama: Finished 1st cycle for facial Burkitts. Great improvement already from above picture

Adama: Finished 1st cycle for facial Burkitts. Amazing transformation already from above picture. 

 Daoda  : Received 1st dose for facial burkitts. Also great improvement.

Giving to the Koutiala Hospital Cancer Fund will enable us to continue treating these children protecting them from otherwise certain demise. 1 case of Burkitt's lymphoma can be cured for $1000. Thank you in advance for considering giving! Any amount is appreciated! This tinyurl leads to the secure link:  tinyurl.com/khcancer

Arasidatou, burn update

We hadn't seen Arasidatou in quite awhile but came to us the other week through MSF (Doctors Without Borders) who work in town. See here and here for her story.

I didn't even recognize her when she came. No one did really. I kept thinking her eyes looked familiar but was shocked when I realized it was her. She looked so good!

 But then we opened up her dress to look at her back. Not so good. We knew her back would look something like that because of the graph but didn't realize how bad off the neck area was. She will go back to surgery eventually so that she can move her neck. Unfortunately because her burn was so large, they used most all the skin they could for the grafts the first time so she really has no area left to take. The surgeons have decided to wait until they can get better blades so that they can take the skin from the same spots as before. (What we have currently is not good and does not remove the skin easily and cleanly). So hopefully within this year we can get what they need and Arasidatou can have her surgery.

Arasidatou and Djeneba enjoying their candy canes together. They looked so cute together. Together they show the spectrum of response to long hospital stays. Arasidatou is fearful and cautious. Djeneba comes right up to us and sticks her hands in our pockets to find candy. :) Often she is lucky and finds something. (Djeneba has been coming twice a week lately for dressing changes).