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McKenna "Kenni" Xydias was suffering from fevers for a few months, as well as a swollen belly, but his parents said his doctors suspected that it was gas.
(Courtesy of the Xydias family)
On the morning of her daughter's first chemotherapy, Meagan Xydias learned that her 2-year-old daughter would never be able to dive because of one of her life-saving drugs.
"It made me cry so loud," Xydias, a teacher in Georgia, told Fox News. "And I do not know why. I told myself "she can not be in the navy". We are not even a family of divers. I had never even done it before, but thinking of those little things that will affect her all her life, she will have to look back and say, "I have cancer, so I can not not do it, or I can not do that. But that's part of his story now. "
Two weeks ago, Meagan and Michael Xydias brought their youngest child, McKenna "Kenni" Shea, to the doctor's office after weeks of fever, irritability, irritability, difficult choices and bloating. in the stomach. The family had recently moved and changed pediatricians, while introducing Kenni to a new daycare. His symptoms did not seem alarming to anyone.
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But an X-ray on February 14 revealed that Kenni's bowels were full. After hearing several times that Kenni was probably suffering from constipation or gas, Meagan Xydias said he insisted on getting more answers. They were then sent to the Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital Children's Hospital for an ultrasound.
Concerned parents will soon learn that their daughter's symptoms are actually the result of cancerous tumors developing in her body.
Kenni's tumors have been officially diagnosed as stage 3 vitreous-stage ovarian cancer, resulting from germ-cell tumors that typically form in children's reproductive organs, but may also appear in d? other areas, including the neck, chest, coccyx, pelvis and brain.
"We were blind, we thought it was constipation," Xydias said. "At worst, we thought that she might have to undergo surgery to clear her intestines, but we'd never thought that it would be a cancer." "
Germ cell tumors account for only about 3% of childhood cancers, according to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which also states that there is no reason for their development, but is more common in children. people with certain inherited diseases.
"I do not think my husband thinks that she could have ovarian cancer at the age of 2," said Xydias. "Me, I was stuck in the cancer part."
Surgery to remove tumors, as well as chemotherapy to attack the remaining cancer cells, is usually the recommended treatment. Kenni's surgeons removed some of the tumors, as well as his right ovary and five inches of his small intestine. She is now facing four cycles of chemotherapy.
Once upon a time, I was scrolling prayer requests for this or that, but I will never do it again.
As part of his treatment plan, Kenni is participating in a study involving three chemotherapy drugs, one of which could have less severe side effects than another currently available, which could result in prolonged hearing loss in the patients. Xydias said they did not discuss the percentages with Kenni's team, but that the doctors were convinced that the tumors would respond to chemotherapy.
Xydias said that once she learned that the cancer was attacking her daughter's ovaries, she was worried about her future fertility, but the low dose of chemotherapy put her at a lower risk of affecting the rest of her ovaries. . Xydias said that once Kenni would have reached puberty, they would come back to assess the possible damage.
"She does not like people in the scrubs anymore after being stung and moved," Xydias said of her daughter. "I think that in the last two days she has become much more open. She gives people the "Kenni's Eye", like "Are you going to touch me or are you here to talk to mom and dad?"
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His smile also came back, something that, according to his mother, had disappeared for several "heartbreaking" days. Kenni's room is filled with stuffed animals, which she uses as a barrier between her and the doctors.
"She takes [the stuffed animals] and covers themselves and hides to hide from the doctors, "Xydias said. "The doctors accessed her port to start chemotherapy and as soon as they were done, she hid the harbor under her teddy bear. She is a very smart 2 year old. "
Xydias said that her daughter found comfort in her stuffed animals, especially when she tried to hide "from all those who were gumming themselves".
(With the permission of the Xydias family.)
Xydias keeps his family and friends up to date on Kenni's progress with the Facebook page "Fight with Kenni", where she also received tips and tricks about things that two weeks ago were foreign to him.
She also stated that she wanted Kenni's story to reach parents who might be reluctant to seek a diagnosis or ask more questions at the doctor's office.
"If it only helps a person, then it's worth it," she said.
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Establishing relationships with other people who have experienced similar situations or hearing from sympathizers expressing their thoughts and prayers has helped the family move forward. She also credits their "village" for helping to take care of their two boys, who have also been helped to treat their sister's illness.
"Once upon a time, I was scrolling prayer requests for this or that, but I will never do it again," said Xydias, adding that she had made tacit connections with other parents at the time. hospital.
"I feel a connection with parents who are sitting in the USI or elsewhere and want to know what to do for their babies … I understand this in a way that I've never done before "she said. "And I hope that few people will be forced to do it."
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