Bethany Hope Child Bethany Hope Child was diagnosed with a medullablastoma brain tumor, April 3, 2006. Two days later, she had surgery to remove the tumor at the LeBonheur Children's Medical Center.
April 18, 2006 we went to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for 31 days of radiation, on the brain and spine. During August, September, October and November she had four rounds of high dose chemotherapy. The November MRI showed that all was clear.
January 22-29, 2007, Bethany has a bout of shingles, which required a week in the hospital to recieve medication.
After a happy, healthy spring, Bethany began to battle with vomiting again. An MRI was taken July 24, 2007 which revealed our suspicion, Bethany had relapsed. A mild dose of chemo was given at home which held the cancer at bay until December 2007.
Another MRI, December 27, 2007, showed that the cancer had changed in form from tumor masses to an overall spread on the brain. The Dr. was suggesting a change in the kind of chemo. But the protocol or progran that he wanted to use had not been totally approved by all the officials yet.
To begin chemo again we needed an MRI, which was taken, Friday, January 25, 2008. The four week wait we had allowed the cancer to grow free and fast, to the point that the Dr. was not interested in doing any more chemo.
We began to see a fast decline in health at this point--
Saturday, January 26, - Bethany ate her last bites of food and played her favorite game, Memory, for the last time. Her eyes did not focus together and had a faraway, glassy look.
Sunday, January 27, - She had many sleepy spells, her right hand went limp and that afternoon she spoke her last clear words.
Monday, January 28, - She was sleepier and more restless from pain, which was controlled by morphine and Tylenol.
Tuesday, January 29, - We began to be suspicious that she could not see near objects, but followed objects farther away.
Wednesday, January 30, - At 10:00 a.m., when her breathing changed from fast to quite shallow we realized that Bethany no longer responded, and had slipped into a coma. That evening she started having a fever.
Thursday, January 31, - Bethany opened her eyes unresponsive and moved her right hand several times.
Friday, February 1, - Her pulse had weakened considerably and her breathing was becoming labored. Toward evening she stopped breathing for periods of 15 - 55 seconds at a time.
Saturday February 2, 2008 at 4:45 a.m. Bethany's heart stopped and she went to heaven. After watching her suffer and struggle for three days and three nights it is a relief to know she is sweetly resting in Jesus' arms free from any earthly struggle.
We want to sincerely thank our family and friends for all you have done for us these past two years and especially this past week. She was preceded in death by her paternal great grandfather Calvert Petre, Sparta, TN; and paternal great grandparents Joseph and Helen Wells, Lititz, PA.
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