Ava Weis, 10, had appeared drained and never herself for fairly a while. In January 2022, a chest X-ray confirmed one thing not fairly proper. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
The household quickly met with Beth Kurt, MD, part chief for pediatric oncology at Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Scans recognized three tumors on Ava’s physique—one at every of the lymph nodes close to the collar bone, and one within the center on her trachea. Ava started chemotherapy remedies thrice per week. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“She is very motivated,” Dr. Kurt stated. “She drinks an entire liter of water earlier than remedy and will get up early to get all of it completed. Not everybody can try this. She’s taking accountability for her personal well being.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Throughout Ava’s journey, Spectrum Well being and Beaumont Well being built-in into one BHSH Well being System. Dr. Kurt and physicians at Beaumont Well being decided proton remedy would possibly supply the exact remedy wanted to knock Ava’s most cancers into remission. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Beaumont Well being’s Proton Remedy Middle is the one middle of its sort in Michigan to deal with pediatric sufferers. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Ava and her mother, Jennifer, stayed in Detroit for 3 weeks in Might, visiting the hospital 5 days every week for precision radiation remedy. Every remedy session lasted 30 to 40 minutes. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Radiation therapists Religion Harrington, proper, and Alyssa Macioce, middle, assist Ava put together for her proton remedy session. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
“Ava has been tremendous resilient, after all,” Jennifer stated. “However she didn’t need to go at first. We couldn’t promise that this might be the tip of remedy, however we’re certainly hopeful.” (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Jennifer exhibits the place her daughter Ava’s tumors are situated and the way proton remedy will higher goal these tumors, versus conventional radiation remedy. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Proton remedy radiation is extra centered on the tumor itself, delivering much less radiation to regular, wholesome tissue across the tumor, Rohan Deraniyagala, MD, medical director for the Beaumont Proton Remedy Middle, stated. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Nurse navigator Beverly Robertson, proper, helps Ava select an merchandise from the toy room after receiving her proton remedy remedy. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Music therapist Abby Walters teaches Ava the right way to play Olivia Rodrigo’s “Deja Vu” on the ukulele. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
With proton remedy now accomplished, she should wait three months. She’ll then endure a PET scan to test her progress. “What we need to ensure that of is that, as she grows into an grownup, (she) has a standard, wholesome high quality of life,” Dr. Deraniyagala stated. (Emily Rose Bennett | Beaumont Hospital)
Ava’s dad, Mike, by accident promised her a canine throughout remedy. “Dad stated you’re allowed to be unhappy, and also you’re allowed to be mad,” Ava stated. “However for those who strive your finest, you’ll be able to have a canine.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
When the pet arrived in Might, it instantly lifted Ava’s spirits. The English shepherd, Ollie, is simply 15 weeks outdated. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Ava at house along with her cat, Caramel Willy. (Courtesy photograph / Jennifer Weis)
Once they returned house, the Weis household packed up and headed to the shores of Lake Michigan, the place they spent a protracted weekend at a treehouse on stilts, overlooking a bluff. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Camp Casey granted Ava’s want of spending an evening within the treehouse, one thing she’s been desirous to do for years. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
They introduced Ollie to the treehouse, too. “All I’ve ever wished is to be a canine mother,” Ava stated. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Ava performs along with her pet, Ollie, on the seaside. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“He’s been a handful up to now,” Jennifer stated. “However Ava is so completely satisfied and having an superior time along with her pet.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Ava and her sister Abigail sit on the seaside collectively. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Ava has massive desires for her future. “I’m considering of being a vet or an animal coach,” Ava stated. “Or opening a canine bakery. A ‘barkery,’ the place we might make snacks for canines.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“It’s simply an absolute great option to finish all of this,” Jennifer stated. “Ava is simply over the moon and might’t wait to spend the weekend in a treehouse along with her pet. And the household, too.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
When she has one other scan in three months, docs will decide the success of the proton remedy. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Whereas Ava obtained chemo remedies, she discovered a music on her ukulele for Abigail as a shock. She positive aspects a lot inspiration from music remedy, too. She goals to play each time she’s on the hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“We’re very hopeful,” Jennifer stated. She stated the household has felt so many acts of kindness by way of all of it. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“Each particular person you encounter feels that very same concern and ache,” she stated. “And that helps.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
It was a brand new 12 months like no different. One that might change a household’s life ceaselessly.
On Jan. 5, 2022, after a go to to the household pediatrician confirmed one thing not proper on a chest X-ray, Jennifer and Mike Weis drove their daughter, Ava, to the emergency division at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Ava, 10, had appeared drained and never herself for fairly a while, however there have been no different main signs.
The household quickly met with Beth Kurt, MD, part chief for pediatric oncology at Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital.
Scans recognized three tumors on Ava’s physique—one at every of the lymph nodes close to the collar bone, and one within the center on her trachea.
“It was rather a lot, actually quick,” Jennifer stated.
The care group inserted a PICC line in Ava, giving docs entry to the massive central veins close to the guts. Simply days later, she would begin chemotherapy after being recognized with early stage 2A Hodgkin lymphoma.
“I actually really feel that it virtually was a miracle as a result of she was not that sick,” Jennifer stated. “She had most cancers and we didn’t even know.”
Their lives modified straight away.
“It was scary, terrifying actually,” Jennifer stated.
Ava took the information calmly and advised her dad and mom she didn’t even really feel sick.
“She’s a reasonably black-and-white particular person, and he or she wished to wrap it up and go house,” Jennifer stated. “However there’s a lot you’ll be able to’t management when you find yourself sick.”
The oncology group deliberate for Ava to remain on the hospital at some stage in chemotherapy, however she wasn’t up for that.
The Weis household lives simply half-hour from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, in order that they opted to make the drive to Grand Rapids for outpatient remedy three days per week.
“She had little to no unwanted side effects from chemo, which was nice,” Jennifer stated. “She simply wished to play the guitar and be at house along with her cat.”
Motivated and musical
In early March, throughout a go to to the youngsters’s hospital, Ava caught up with Dr. Kurt.
“Subsequent week will hopefully be her final spherical of chemo,” Dr. Kurt stated. “We’ve got to do some assessments first.”
The remedy—a mixture of six completely different chemotherapy drugs delivered over one week each month—is for sufferers with intermediate danger Hodgkin lymphoma, Dr. Kurt stated.
“She has completed very well along with her remedy to this point and, after two cycles, was discovered to be a fast responder,” Dr. Kurt stated.
The physician remained hopeful Ava would see a superb consequence with further remedy.
Amid all of it, Ava has been a rock star, Dr. Kurt stated.
Ava satisfied her dad and mom to permit for remedy within the outpatient infusion clinic, somewhat than inpatient.
“She is very motivated,” Dr. Kurt stated. “She drinks an entire liter of water earlier than remedy and will get up early to get all of it completed. Not everybody can try this. She’s taking accountability for her personal well being.”
Ava chatted along with her dad and mom and Dr. Kurt for a bit because the chemotherapy wrapped up that day.
“What do you need to be once you develop up?” Dr. Kurt requested.
“I’m considering of being a vet or an animal coach,” Ava stated. “Or opening a canine bakery. A ‘barkery,’ the place we might make snacks for canines.”
She positive aspects a lot inspiration from music remedy, too. She goals to play each time she’s on the hospital.
“I like Taylor Swift and Adele,” she stated. “I’m getting fairly good at, ‘You belong with me.’ And I even have an electrical guitar at house.”
“We’re actually grateful for her care group,” Jennifer stated. “Docs, nurses, music therapists … they’ve all been wonderful. We’ve got a lot belief and religion in them.”
Ollie and Caramel Willy
Quick ahead a couple of months.
After a number of rounds of chemotherapy, Ava felt decidedly higher.
“Ava has been unbelievable,” Jennifer stated. “She has had a greater angle than anybody in our household.”
She’s been on a swim group since age 4, and as quickly as she will be able to get her PICC line out she plans to get again into the water.
At house, you’ll discover her taking part in guitar and snuggling up along with her cat, Caramel Willy.
“We had lots of names for him at first,” Ava stated. “He was Equipment Kat at first as a result of his fur was so darkish.”
Ava stated Caramel Willy acquired confused and ate extra throughout her time away on the hospital, and he’s now the scale of a small lion.
“He was my remedy cat,” she stated. “However generally it was the opposite approach round. I used to be his remedy particular person.”
Ava’s dad, Mike, by accident promised her a canine throughout remedy.
“Dad stated you’re allowed to be unhappy, and also you’re allowed to be mad,” Ava stated. “However for those who strive your finest, you’ll be able to have a canine.”
When the pet arrived in Might, it instantly lifted Ava’s spirits.
“All I’ve ever wished is to be a canine mother,” she stated.
The English shepherd, Ollie, is simply 15 weeks outdated.
“He’s been a handful up to now,” Jennifer stated. “However Ava is so completely satisfied and having an superior time along with her pet.”
Scans confirmed Ava’s tumors certainly decreased in measurement.
However she would want further remedy.
Precision remedy
Throughout Ava’s journey, Spectrum Well being and Beaumont Well being built-in into one BHSH Well being System.
Dr. Kurt reached out throughout the state to her new doctor colleagues to assist discover the most effective remedy for Ava. This new connection made remedy extra seamless, providing further care alternatives.
Dr. Kurt and physicians at Beaumont Health decided proton remedy would possibly supply the exact remedy wanted to knock Ava’s most cancers into remission. And fortunate for Ava, Beaumont Well being’s Proton Therapy Center is the one middle of its sort in Michigan to deal with pediatric sufferers.
Ava and her mother stayed in Detroit for 3 weeks in Might, visiting the hospital 5 days every week for precision radiation remedy. Every remedy session lasted 30 to 40 minutes.
“Ava has been tremendous resilient, after all,” Jennifer stated. “However she didn’t need to go at first. We couldn’t promise that this might be the tip of remedy, however we’re certainly hopeful.”
Proton remedy radiation is extra centered on the tumor itself, delivering much less radiation to regular, wholesome tissue across the tumor, Rohan Deraniyagala, MD, medical director for the Beaumont Proton Remedy Middle, stated.
“Which means proton remedy would have much less unwanted side effects than typical radiation,” Dr. Deraniyagala stated.
Ava has lymphoma of the neck and chest, between the lungs, so typical radiation focused at these areas may have affected her coronary heart, throat, lung and breast tissue.
The remedy was painless, and Ava stated it solely made her really feel a bit drained.
With proton remedy now accomplished, she should wait three months. She’ll then endure a PET scan to test her progress.
Docs stay optimistic about her restoration.
“What we need to ensure that of is that, as she grows into an grownup, (she) has a standard, wholesome high quality of life,” Dr. Deraniyagala stated.
Up in a treehouse
Following the remedy at Beaumont Well being, Ava and her mother returned to their Spring Lake house, the place they had been greeted by Mike and Ava’s sister, Abigail, and an keen Caramel Willy.
And the brand new pet, Ollie.
Now that radiation remedy is accomplished, Ava has no further deliberate remedy. She’s going to proceed to endure surveillance with check-ups and imaging.
However Ava and her household aren’t ones to remain put and wait issues out.
Once they returned house, the Weis household packed up and headed to the shores of Lake Michigan, the place they spent a protracted weekend at a treehouse on stilts, overlooking a bluff.
Camp Casey granted Ava’s want of spending an evening within the treehouse, one thing she’s been desirous to do for years.
“It’s simply an absolute great option to finish all of this,” Jennifer stated. “Ava is simply over the moon and might’t wait to spend the weekend in a treehouse along with her pet. And the household, too.”
When she has one other scan in three months, docs will decide the success of the proton remedy.
“We’re very hopeful,” Jennifer stated. “But in addition, cautiously optimistic—and don’t need to promise something.”
One factor is for positive: Ava has an exquisite summer time forward of her to spend with Caramel Willy, Ollie and her household and associates.
And a magical weekend within the treehouse closed one other chapter in her well being journey.
Jennifer stated the household has felt so many acts of kindness by way of all of it.
“Each particular person you encounter feels that very same concern and ache,” she stated. “And that helps.”
