Helena S. Quigley

Wayne, Pa.

Dear Fawn,
I'm Helena Quigley, Miriam's Mom.

Miriam was diagnosed with a disseminated Medullablastoma when she was 2 1/2. She had a tumor spread from her brain through her spinal to her bone marrow. She was the worst case that young they have ever seen at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Thank God we live in this area and were able to get the best care for her. She would not be here today. She had surgery and a treacherous five cycles of chemo followed by a stem-cell transplant. Miraculously she survived the surgery - then the chemo - with all of the infections she caught and surgeries she had to go through and the transplant - with more infections.

She was cancer-free for eight months, then her relapse. Since February, she is now on her third type of chemo and responding well.

We feel blessed that she is still alive and thank God everyday that she has been given so many chances to survive with a great quality of life. After all isn't that what is important - her quality of life.

I'm sure you know that her best shot of surviving long term was her first shot. She had three other boys go through the same treatment around the same time with her and they are all no longer here. Children are so amazing the way they bounce back and take the hits again and again. She doesn't know anything different now. A finger stick and blood transfusions are routine. Doctors and nurses are like family. The hospital is a second home.

She never, now at 4, asks why? she just does and keeps going. Her doctor finds her astounding. We hope and pray that this chemo will work for her. She never had any statistic in her whole life of cancer. She seems to be always paving the first one.

We never say never and are always hopeful for her. She has never done what they thought she should or would do. With her case, that is a good thing.