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Immediately upon seeing the CT report,
the pediatrician phoned a pediatric
surgeon; though it was Thanksgiving
weekend, the surgeon was the first to
give the Gunn’s the news about Annastin
having a cancerous tumor. The surgeon
then brought in an oncologist with the
Blume Clinic at Presbyterian and he too
took one look at the CT and realized
that Baby Annastin had not only cancer
but most probably a cancer called
neuroblastoma. “He knew right away what
it was,” Andrea said, “what type of
cancer she had, and how they were going
to treat it.”
It
wasn’t until one week later of the
diagnosis, Presbyterian Hospital in
Charlotte admitted Annastin. For eight
days she underwent bone marrow scans and
extensive CT scans, MIGB scans and other
test to determine what stage Annastin’s
cancer was in. On the 6th of
December Annastin underwent surgery to
remove the potential fatal tumor nearing
her spine. It wasn’t until the end of
the week when all the results came back
that the Gunn’s found out Annastin had
stage III neuroblastoma, which would
require chemotherapy. “It was at this
point that we felt our lowest” said Tim
Gunn.
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Annastin
Gunn in the hospital during the final
days of Chemo
Annastin,
now cancer free! |
The Gunn family
watched as their relatively happy and vibrant
baby very quickly became the center of concern.
Starting the week after Thanksgiving, 2006 and
over the next four months, Baby Annastin was on
a roller coaster ride that saw her battle
through surgery to remove the tumor, recovery
from surgery, endure endless tests, consistent
blood test, sleepless nights, consistent visits
to the clinic, many unexpected nights in the
hospital from fevers and suffering nausea from
the chemotherapy.
Tim and Andrea
were at their lowest point in mid-December.
“After the doctors removed the tumor they kept
telling us that the curtail test were coming
back favorable and we were all ready to pack our
bags and finally get back home in our own beds,”
Andrea said, “but it was on Friday the 8th
of December that her most intense and longest
test that was taken after surgery, the one that
would give us certainty that the cancer was only
contained in the tumor, the report came back not
so favorable.” The cancer had spread to her
lymph nodes. The Doctor came in, sat down and
told us that our little girl was going to have
to go through chemotherapy “I looked at my baby
Annastin with tears in my eyes.”
“We felt
helpless and angry,” Tim said. “When you think
of cancer you think of death and you ask God why
she has to suffer like this.” The Gunn’s
however, relied on their greatest source of
strength. “I just kept saying, God I totally
trust you but you have to get me through this,”
Andrea said.
Help came from
all directions at that time. The doctors were
very supportive and were always there to answer
their questions. While Andrea primarily stayed
with Annastin in the hospital and for weekly
sometimes twice a week clinic visits, Tim Gunn
took on the responsibility of taking care of
Brooklyn, Annastin’s older sister, while also
maintaining his teaching position at Kings
Mountain Middle School. Tim’s employer was very
supportive by allowing him to take days off when
needed and his coworkers took up a love
collection. “They helped out with anything I
ever needed,” Tim said.
“This was
difficult on all of us,” Andrea said. “Brooklyn
could not understand why mommy and daddy weren’t
there for her as much. If it wasn’t for the love
from our family members and dearest friends and
prayers and support of even total strangers, I
don’t know how we would’ve got by.”
In mid-March,
2007, after months of exhausting chemotherapy,
the doctors announced that Baby Annastin was now
cancer free. While reading the updates and
messages on the CarePages website, it was easy
to see family, friends, and even strangers
jumping up and down. The short term outlook for
Annastin is that she will be watched very
closely by doctors for the next five years.
Typically,
neuroblastoma does not come back once it is
eradicated, however a 100% guarantee cannot be
given. Annastin Gunn will most likely be an
oncologist patient the rest of her life. “The
good news,” Andrea said, “is that she passed her
echocardiogram and her audiology test.” This
means that the chemotherapy did not affect
Annastin’s heart or her hearing. After
compiling weeks in the hospital with surgeries
and tests over the four desperate months, Baby
Annastin enjoys getting outside. “She is
constantly on the go,” Andrea said. “Just like
her mom.”
Tim and Andrea
Gunn would like other families who are facing
any illness to know that they don’t have to face
this without God. The Gunn’s reasoning for the
past difficulties with Annastin’s health is that
it moulds you but you must let it go. Do not
hold onto it. Live everyday with your family as
if it were your last.
Annastin Gunn has most likely been through more in
her life than most of us will ever
experience. And for that, baby Annastin is truly a
Children’s Chance Champion!
Read
Matthew's story.
Read Amber's
story.
Read
Ruthie's story.
Read
Gabriel's story.
Read
Joel's story.
Read Brittany's story.
Read the Ferguson family's
story.
Read Madelyn's story.
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To submit your family's
story about your own experience with pediatric
cancer to be featured in the Meet the Families
section, please email to:
samanthahiggins@bellsouth.net (include
pictures if you like)
or call the office at (803) 254-5996! |
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