Angel Jessica Easley

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 18:06

I am 7 years old and have alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. I had a bump on my leg one day, and the next week I was at ACH having biopsies. I will be on chemotherapy and other treatment for 43 weeks, possibly longer. I cannot go to school or play sports until chemo is finished, and may lose my right leg too. I want to hear from my friends and family during this tough time since I can not see you often.

UPDATE. I did lose my leg as we knew was a possibility. I am going to go to school though, when I feel good, since I go to private school now. I hope to get my prosthetic leg in the next month or so (Sept 2006), and then will have to work hard with physical therapy to learn to operate it.

UPDATE: I did not get my prosthesis until November, and because of the time I spent without a leg, almost 4 months, I am fighting with mom and the therapists about PT. I am content to hop on my one leg, have good balance, and not having 2 legs does not bother me! Mom is working hard at convincing me that when I learn to use the prosthesis I can play basketball again and still compete in swimming, maybe make the Junior Olympics with only one leg! I had looked forward to the olympics last year, but the cancer stopped that from happening.

UPDATE: On Valentine's Day 2007, Jessica was told her cancer is in remission. Thank the Lord for MIRACLES. Jessica will have blood draws/check ups every 6 weeks for awhile to check her progress.

UPDATE: Some issues going on with breathing/shorthness of breath and hair growing in the wrong places; hoping it means nothing. Jessica has scans 11/28/2007 to check her progress. Jessica is doing exceptionally well with "Elvis" (her prosthesis) and is running/playing as any 9-year-old child for the most part.

UPDATE: Possible lung metastases growing in number and size in left lobe of lung on 3 CTs spanning a 9-month time-frame.

UPDATE: All the "ickiness" going on including headaches, weakness, being tired, lack of coordination, etc., did in fact become relapsed cancer. Jessica underwent removal of tumor from back in April 2008 positive for alveolar cells...further biopsies with results yet unknown. She starts chemo AGAIN today, 04/22/2008. Continue to pray as a relapse of this cancer has an extremely poor prognosis.

UPDATE: Jessica got her angel wings on October 13, 2009.