Diagnosis: Retinoblastoma
When Hadley was born, her mom and dad noticed some issues with the color of her right eye. Concerned, they mentioned it to their pediatrician who reassured them it was nothing to worry about. Over time, however, the issue seemed to be getting worse. Hadley’s parents insisted on a referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist. They were seen at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
After several tests, they were told Hadley had Retinoblastoma. She had a tumor in her right eye, and the retina was detached. Her parents learned the eye would have to be removed. The day of the surgery brought another shock—the globe of Hadley’s eye had ruptured from the pressure of the tumor. Because of this, they will need to keep a close watch on her eye socket for the next six to 12 months to make sure the cancer has not spread.
Unfortunately, the family also learned that Hadley had a second tumor—this one in her left eye. Reeling from the news but anxious to tackle the situation, they decided to immediately begin chemotherapy treatments. After several rounds of chemotherapy and laser treatments to the left eye, Hadley’s tumor did not shrink. Hadley’s parents, along with the doctors in Kansas City, decided she should see Dr. Abramson’s team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. It was there they learned that Hadley actually has two tumors in her left eye. The tumors were immediately treated with the first of three rounds of laser and ICG treatment.
Hadley will return for the next round in New York, she and her family have been through so much. Even with insurance, the expense of her Hadley’s care is significant. A GoFundMe® has been created to support the family with their financial needs (https://www.gofundme.com/35fkhb6s).
Hadley continues to amaze her parents with her strength and spirit through every step of her journey. Now that they see a path through this, Hadley’s mother, Erin, and her father, Charley, are committed to raising awareness about the importance of following your intuition when it comes to medical concerns with your children. The family suggests listening to your instincts and knocking on doors until you find answers.
