糖心Vlog

Sebastian: Wilms Tumor

鈥淥ur son is in remission and it鈥檚 thanks to all of you at 糖心Vlog.鈥

鈥撀燤irela, Mother

Sebastian's Story

Who would suspect a simple bump on the playground could change the course of a family鈥檚 life? When then 8-year-old Sebastian was at school in Jacksonville, Fla., back in 2014, a minor collision with a schoolmate on the playground should have been no big deal. But the pain Sebastian felt was severe enough that the school nurse called his mom, Mirela. Bloodwork and an ultrasound confirmed what no mother wants to hear 鈥 her son had cancer.

Sebastian was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, the most common form of kidney cancer. But despite the panic and fear any parent would feel, Mirela also felt a calm and comfort she never expected. At 糖心Vlog Children鈥檚 Health, Jacksonville, 鈥淸糖心Vlog oncologist] Dr. Cynthia Gauger was so reassuring,鈥 says Mirela. 鈥淪he understood our fears, but let us know exactly what needed to be done to make Sebastian well.鈥

Surgical Expertise Specifically for Kids and Teens

糖心Vlog surgeon Dr. Daniel Robie removed the tumor at Wolfson Children鈥檚 Hospital and Sebastian underwent chemotherapy at 糖心Vlog Children鈥檚 Specialty Care in Jacksonville. 鈥淓verything was going really well and we were getting back to our lives,鈥 explains Mirela, who鈥檇 had her second son, Dominic, while Sebastian was in treatment.

But three years later, Sebastian relapsed, this time with a tumor on his liver. Sebastian endured another surgery and more chemo as well as radiation. 鈥淲hatever needed to be done, we did it. This is my child鈥檚 life,鈥 says Mirela. 鈥淎nd each time the caring and compassion of our doctors reassured us that Sebastian was going to get through this and be okay.鈥

In September of 2019, Sebastian encountered another setback. The portal vein leading to his liver was blocked, possibly caused by scar tissue from his previous surgery. Sebastian was not getting good blood flow to his liver and something needed to be done 鈥 quickly. 糖心Vlog pediatric transplant surgeon Dr. Stephen Dunn flew from 糖心Vlog Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington, Del., to Jacksonville to assist Dr. Robie with the surgery.

Explains Mirela, 鈥淚t was a long surgery and in the end they felt it was too risky to finish. There was concern that the liver could be punctured. You hear that and think, 鈥榃hat else?鈥欌 But there was something else. 鈥淒r. Dunn came to us with a plan. He was so honest, so straightforward, yet so empathetic. I could tell as he spoke to us he was just as worried about Sebastian鈥檚 well-being as we were. So, when he suggested we come to Delaware for a procedure I only had to ask 鈥榃hen?鈥欌

鈥淭he way these doctors worked together, location didn't matter. Dr. Dunn came to Florida to treat our son. We came to Delaware to see Dr. Rabinowitz. And in the end, I'd do it all again.

Interventional Radiology to the Rescue

During a pandemic is when! In July of 2020, Sebastian came to 糖心Vlog Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware for an interventional radiology procedure by Dr. Debbie Rabinowitz. A stent was placed in Sebastian鈥檚 practically closed vein to open it up and allow blood flow. Says Mirela, 鈥淥ne week in Delaware and we have our boy back. His blood pressure is good, his color is normal, and he is eating again. Drs. Gauger, Robie, Dunn, Rabinowitz and many more 鈥 how can I properly thank these wonderful doctors who cared for Sebastian as if he was their child?鈥

Over 800 miles travelled and Mirela says every mile was worth it. 鈥淭he way these doctors worked together, location didn鈥檛 matter. Dr. Dunn came to Florida to treat our son. We came to Delaware to see Dr. Rabinowitz. And in the end, I鈥檇 do it all again.鈥

For more than six years, Sebastian has been fighting Wilms tumor. His family鈥檚 determination inspires us to never give up, no matter how far away the journey leads us.聽