Our Addison is forever 2 and 1/2  years old. She became a Cancer Warrior at just 16 months old. Prior to diagnosis Addison loved playing with friends from daycare and being outside in the sunshine. Though being in the hospital and away from the comfort of home was hard at times, the hospital’s menu of pizza, chicken nuggets, sausage, bacon and Mac n cheese satisfied Addie’s love for beige and brown food!

The road to a clear diagnosis took several weeks and in the beginning her illness was believed yo be a rare blood disorder call HLH. After 6 month of treating HLH, with chemo and steroid regiments similar to treatments for Leukemia, Addison’s doctors moved forward with plans for a bone marrow transplant. During her pre-transplant, aggressive rounds of chemo, the doctor’s discover an underlying Leukemia. The cells were very immature and could not be fully typed but her entire team was confident that proceeding with her transplant would provide her with the best opportunity for a cure. Before transplant wr had apent many nights and days in Kaiser Roseville dancing with her and her IV pole before bed and decorating the walls of her room with owls and hearts.  

On January 14th, 2011  Addison celebrated her second birthday at UCSF Benioff, Children’s Hospital and on January 20th she received her transplant. All labs began to improve and hope was restored, even though the transplant chemotherapy was begin to take its toll on Addie’s little toddler body. During this time chemo began to change her taste buds and she took a liking for hot Cheetos and spaghetti. Shortly after arriving home from transplant Addison developed an infection in her broviac line and she was readmitted to UCSF. During the 2 weeks she was back in for the treatment of her infection her counts took an unexpected and unfavorable turn. By the time she was released to go home, after clearing the infection, cancer cells where back.

The cells that were found were more mature Leukemia cells and It was determined Addison had Type 5- AML Leukemia. This form of leukemia is aggressive and not typically seen in girls and most often considered a geriatric form of leukemia. Addison stayed home for a while as doctors and the family attempted to determine what was next. She got to be home for a while, eat cheese, peanut butter and more hot Cheetos, ride around the neighborhood in her push car, sit in the front yard grass and enjoy the sun. But soon the leukemia and Graft versus host disorder, brought on by transplant brought her back to the 4th floor of Kaiser hospital. 

Addison filled her hospital room and days with laughter, art work, cars and tracks, tea parties and movie time. In April she began to tell everyone that her monmy had a baby in her belly and she was so excited to meet her little sibling. But there was not a clear treatment plan in sight for Addison and more; no easy road. So the plan was to keep her comfortable and see what happens next as we have her little warrior body a break. On July 19th 2011 Addison took her last breath in her mommy’s arms. 

Addison never met her brother or any of the cousins who have been born since but they all know her so well, because we keep her memory thriving. 

Donate in her honor and help us find cures and better treatment for our biggest little warriors, like Addie💗

About  Unravel Pediatric Cancer:Unravel is a nonprofit organization working to spread knowledge about the grim realities of pediatric cancer and the devastating impact from the lack of funding. We supply the information, tools and support to individuals and communities that want to help create change; because good people want to do good things but sometimes they need help getting started. All monies raised by and for Unravel will go directly to the fight against pediatric cancer.In addition, Unravel partners with other nonprofits to strengthen our efforts. We do all of this with one goal in mind; we will unravel pediatric cancer.Please visit https://unravelpediatriccancer.org/science for more information.