Cranston - Kent
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Published on
January 17, 2013
January 17, 2013
Cranston - Kent
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Belle's Story
Written by a local Rhody mom
By: Melissa Bradley
Melissa Bradley
“I’m going to drop a bomb on you. Your daughter has leukemia.” These words have haunted me every night since I first heard them. My reality in 2013 will be raising a baby with cancer. My baby has cancer.
My children had been looking forward to Christmas Day for an entire year. It was the first Christmas that Belle really understood all of it. She opened gifts, played, ate too much chocolate, napped and played more. Christmas night, on the way to a friend’s house, Belle became sick. Naturally I thought for sure that this was the result of too much chocolate!
Unfortunately, Belle didn’t get better and I immediately thought she had the stomach bug. Five days after Christmas, Belle was still sick; she was vomiting every other hour, her complexion looked grayish/green and she wouldn’t even eat a cake pop (her favorite food). If this was a stomach bug, she should’ve been better or at least getting better. But, she was getting worse. Much worse.
Thankfully our pediatrician's office has Sunday hours and we were able to get an early morning appointment on Sunday, December 30th, 2012. As soon as Belle’s doctor walked into the examining room he asked, “How did she get the bruises?” I explained that Belle is a couch-jumping, banister-riding, light saber-dueling 2.5 year old. He chuckled a bit, checked her over and suggested we head to Hasbro Children’s Hospital so that Belle could receive some fluids for dehydration.
I’ve never been to Hasbro before but every time I’ve driven by I’ve said to myself or whomever I’m with, “I hope I never have to set foot inside that hospital, ever!” Yet here I was walking through the ER doors. Thankfully we were only there for IV fluids and we’d be home and on a road to recovery by the afternoon, or so I thought. The triage nurse at the ER doors seemed to know who we were. She said, “This must be Belle Bradley,” and we were whisked off to an ER room, completely bypassing the triage area. I chalked it up to great service! Nurses and doctors came in to check out Belle and they all asked, “How did she get the bruises?” It made me nervous. They couldn’t possibly think that I did this, could they? Tests were ordered, x-rays, ultra sounds, blood work; all because of dehydration?
Preliminary blood work came back showing Belle had dangerously low platelets and hemoglobin. Doctors threw out terms like anemia, ITP, leukemia. I didn’t hear anything other than “leukemia”. Surely they’re wrong, surely this is worst case. Her belly was very firm and distended so they sent her for an ultrasound. The doctor performed the ultrasound, asked me to hold my questions, and after it was over, asked if I was here alone. He sat beside me and took a few deep breaths. I knew the message he was about to deliver was something I didn’t want to hear. He never looked at me but blurted out the words, “I’m about to drop a bomb on you. This is leukemia." I sat there in shock, with tears filling my eyes. I yelled at him and told him he was wrong; that leukemia is worst case, that you can’t diagnose her based on an ultrasound. He reassured me that he’s seen these symptoms before.
The walk from the imaging area of Hasbro to the ER felt like miles. I cried the entire time. When we got back to the ER room, a group of doctors were waiting for us to deliver more bad news. Her blood counts came back showing she definitively had Leukemia, more specifically Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL. She would begin receiving chemotherapy immediately and a minimum 4-week hospital stay would be necessary. I never really heard what they said that day. It was as if I were being spoken to by Charlie Brown’s teacher.
The next 2.5 years, Belle will receive chemotherapy to ensure there is no risk of relapse. She’ll lose all of her hair and become more susceptible to infection than a newborn baby. She’ll receive spinal taps, platelet transfusions, chemo round after chemo round. In the end she’ll be healthy. She’ll survive, I’ll survive.
Coming into the end of 2012, I wrote down all my goals for 2013. I had career aspirations, aspirations as a competitive athlete, financial goals and personal fulfillment goals. Leukemia has changed our family and as a result my goals and my focus will change as a result. My family needs me, my Belle needs me.
In 2012, my daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia. In 2013, my daughter will beat Leukemia.
Comments
1) Ashley Ohneck said:
God bless you and your family, you will be in my families prayers everyday.
2) Jennifer said:
Melissa,
My heart broke reading this story as this could happen to any of us with out us even knowing. I have young children also. My heart breaks for your family. I am going to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I wish Belle the quickest or recoveries. She is a beautiful , young and vibrant little lady and will beat this monster! It will make her stronger.
3) Jamie said:
I am crying as I type this. I have two children of my own and wouldn't wish this fate on anyone, Our Prayers are with you. Keep your head high and be strong but most important never be afraid to ask for help. Have faith, Belle will beat this.
4) Shannon said:
You are her light. I am so inspired by your strength and positivity. Belle WILL beat this. I will send prayers your way. God Bless Belle, you and your beautiful family.
5) Sarah said:
Thank you for sharing. You have so many people thinking of Belle and your family!
6) Connie said:
Nothing but love!
7) Lauren Carroll said:
I don't even know where to begin after reading this. I have 2 small children myself and pray every night for god to keep them safe and healthy. But this can happen to anyone as we all know. You have a beautiful lil girl and from what I hear you are a very strong women and you will pull through this. May god bless all of you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers everyday <3
8) Rachael said:
I have tears running down my face as I write this. How strong you are to write and share this story. You have a beautiful daughter and an amazing attitude towards what's ahead for you and Belle. The great news is, she WILL beat this, however as parents the love for our children is so immensely deep that we want to put them in a bubble to protect them from every negative thing in the world. I can't even begin to imagine what it is like watching your baby go through chemo and experiencing any sort of pain, along with the fact that she is too young to truly understand what is happening. My family's thoughts and prayers are with you and yours, and I look forward to reading updates and hearing about Belle kicking cancer's ass!
9) Kristin Wheeler said:
Wow Melissa!! So well-written. What an incredible story that just shows you this can happen to ANYONE! Thanks for sharing. Stay strong. And you already know you are all in my thoughts and prayers daily.
10) heatha said:
Im so sorry you and your family are now apart of this horrible journey. as i sat here n read this...i became over whelmed with emotions from my my lil guy was dianosed with neuroblastoma cancer 3 1/2 years ago. hasbro is great! Thats where my son still gets monitored..he has his scans this month...if u have any questions or jus need someone who has gone throu this journey please feel free to contact me. fb heath chaber....megan taylor is a mutual friend. i worked with her before my son got sick at sweet peas village. again..im sorry but please know you are not alone. ill keep praying...we will all help ur daughter n family fight this monster..god bless
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