Last in a series on local Vanderbilt Children's Hospital patients.
By MARK WHITE

We were an average suburban family of five.  Our youngest son was fully involved in all the things a 12 year old loves -- football, baseball, basketball and just messing around in the woods.

 

Our daughter was maturing into a graceful young woman with a love of dance, while our oldest son was figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

 

Life was hectic, but good. My wife and I had always been so thankful to have healthy and active children. When learning of health problems faced by other children we knew, we’d always comment how blessed we are to have kids that were not facing the same difficult challenges in life.

 

One winter day in 2009 that all changed for our family. Our 14-year-old daughter, Hailey, found a lump at the base of her neck that despite all assurances it was probably just an infection, turned out to be cancer. Hailey was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and a journey began for our family that has forever changed our lives. 

 

The urgency of my daughter’s condition was apparent when we arrived at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. A barrage of testing ensued which confirmed that her cancer was at Stage III and treatment needed to start immediately.

 

Our heads were spinning, but the staff at Children’s literally took us by the hand and guided us every step of the way. That day began a year-long odyssey of testing, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment for Hailey that has put her cancer in complete remission today.

 

Enough cannot be said about the professional and truly caring staff at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The oncologists, nurses and social workers form a team that addresses every facet of the battle, from the physical and emotional, to the financial challenges facing the patient and family. 

 

When times are tough, we lean on our God, friends and family. I can truly say that we quickly grew to see all the good people at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as friends and family. It’s clear to me that they will always be there for us and we will never forget all they’ve done to help my daughter fight and defeat this disease. 

 

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that can show up in early teens through middle age and is fatal if untreated. The causes are unknown but there are very successful protocols that have been developed to treat this disease, and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Oncology Department is a world leader in battling this and other childhood cancers.  

 

Middle Tennessee and surrounding states are truly blessed to have such a wonderful facility staffed by very special people for the care of the most precious people in our lives, our children. 

 

I am so very proud of my daughter for the determination, strength, grace and faith she has shown throughout this ordeal. She is now well on her way to getting back to being a “normal” teenager thanks to an incredible group of extremely professional and caring people at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.