If you’re looking for information about pediatric cancer care, Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders can help. While childhood cancer is rare, it is the leading cause of disease-related death past infancy in children and adolescents. “We’re hoping all these treatments will blast the cancer right out her.” “We liken her cancer treatment to fireworks in her belly,” he said. “This added an additional 5 months of treatment but will hopefully improve the chances of cure long-term.”Īlthough she’s only 4 years old, Andrew says Dylan has some understanding of what’s happening to her. “Our goal is to further reduce disease before transplant,” said Dr. Sampson said Dylan’s plan was adjusted due to her response to initial chemotherapy. While the total treatment for neuroblastoma typically lasts approximately 1.5 years, Dr. After the first of the year, Dylan will begin radiation followed by immunotherapy.ĭuring a brief treatment break in September, Dylan experienced increased energy levels and enjoyed playing outside with her dog, Reba. The process will then be repeated a second time. “The dose of chemotherapy given would typically lead to the blood counts not recovering, but with the stem cell infusion, the blood counts recover in approximately 2 weeks.”ĭylan will remain an inpatient for approximately 30 days to watch closely for infections and complications. “An autologous bone marrow transplant is when a patient receives high dose chemotherapy followed by an infusion of their own bone marrow stem cells,” said Dr. 25, Dylan was back at Children’s to get prepped for the bone marrow transplant process. “She had a lot of energy which was nice to see,” said Andrew. “They provide us with lots of resources and comfort.”Īfter wrapping up her chemo at the beginning of Sept., Dylan enjoyed a short break from treatment and took advantage by playing outside and spending time with her dog, Reba. Sarah Ferri (fellow) and Renee Redenshek (child life specialist) have all been incredible,” Brittney said. With so much time spent as an inpatient, Dylan and her family became close to the doctors, nurses and child life specialists on the hematology/oncology floor. “Unfortunately, the response of her bony disease was not where we wanted it before transplant, so we had to do another round of chemo with immunotherapy added,” said Dr. She will also have to undergo radiation in 2024. Megan Sampson, pediatric hematologist-oncologist and Dylan’s physician, treatment for neuroblastoma involves multiple modalities including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and immunotherapy.Īfter 4 months of chemo, surgery was performed in March 2023 to remove the tumor with plans for a bone marrow transplant.ĭylan’s treatments for neuroblastoma have included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and a bone marrow transplant. This was a child who had been doing gymnastics just a week earlier.”ĭiagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma (a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells), Dylan was admitted to the hospital to begin chemotherapy to help shrink the tumor.Īccording to Dr. “That’s when they told me they saw a mass in her abdomen,” said Brittney. “I took her to the doctor a number of times, but they chalked it up to growing pains.”įollowing her gut instinct that something else could be going on, Brittney took Dylan to the ER at Akron Children’s where they performed bloodwork followed by an abdominal CT. “Dylan was complaining that her back hurt and was limping and walking differently,” said Brittney. Prior to her neuroblastoma diagnosis, Dylan Harr was a healthy and active 3 year old who loved to do gymnastics.Īndrew and Brittney Harr still vividly remember the day in November 2022 they learned their 3-year-old daughter, Dylan, had cancer.
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