Brooklynn Adams
A Child of Courage
by Bette Gibson
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Brooklynn Adams, who will be
two years old in August, was recently
diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor, a malignancy
originating in the cells of the kidney and
occurring in approximately 500 children in
the U.S. each year. |
On a hot summer day in August 2004, a beautiful,
8 pound, 9 ounce baby girl was born to the delight
and joy of Shawn and Tanya Adams, their daughter
Madison (“Madi”), now 7, and a host of proud family
members and friends. Named Brooklynn because Tanya
favored the name “Brook” and “Lynn” after her aunt,
this bright baby girl has become the focus of great,
unabiding love, hope and prayerful interaction
between family, friends and community members in
Magnolia, Texas where the family resides.
On Wednesday, March 29 of this year, Tanya was
changing Brooklynn’s diaper and to her horror,
noticed what appeared to be a lemon-sized lump on
her baby’s abdomen. Brooklynn had not been ill,
showed no previous signs of discomfort and from all
appearances, was a chubby, healthy baby with good
appetite and high energy. A frantic phone call to
Shawn and a hurried trip to the hospital resulted in
a battery of tests and what seemed like endless
waiting for answers.
After five anxious hours, the medical staff at
Texas Children’s Hospital reported to Shawn and
Tanya that an ultrasound revealed a softball size
tumor attached to Brooklynn’s right kidney and
diagnosed her with Wilm’s Tumor, a malignancy
originating in the cells of the kidney and occurring
in approximately 500 children in the United States
each year.
On Saturday of that same week, doctors removed
the tumor and Brooklynn’s right kidney. All the
preparation in the world could not have prepared
these young parents for the sight they would see
when they entered Brooklynn’s room after the
operation. This pale “daddy’s girl” attached to
tubes and machines was too much for them to bear but
somehow they persevered. When the doctor came in for
consultation, they were told that the cancer had
spread to Brooklynn’s lungs.
Wilm’s Tumor, also called nephro-blastoma is the
most common type of renal (kidney) cancer and
accounts for about six percent of all childhood
cancers. It usually occurs in children younger than
five years old. Doctors believe the cancer arises
when cells destined to form the kidney fail to
develop and instead multiply in this state. The
condition is named for Carl Max Wilhelm Wilms, a
19th century German surgeon who recognized that the
cancer developed from immature kidney cells.
There are five stages to this disease and Stage
IV, (which Brooklynn has) is where the cancer has
spread to the lungs, liver, or brain. Treatment for
this stage includes surgery, radiation and
chemotherapy. This dreaded disease can go undetected
early on because the tumors can grow large without
causing pain, and children can appear perfectly
healthy. Possible symptoms include appearance of a
lump in the abdomen area, blood in the urine,
decreased appetite, weakness or tiredness, nausea,
and high blood pressure. As of this date, scientists
still do not know of a preventative treatment for
this disease.
Brooklynn has now bravely completed eight
radiation treat-ments at Methodist Hospital without
any negative side effects and the tests results show
a marked improvement in her lungs. She has just
begun chemotherapy at Texas Childrens Hospital which
will go on for the next six months. Tanya had her
daughter’s long hair cut short to prepare for the
hair loss that is to come and so far Brooklynn is
bearing up well to the treatments. She has three
scars on her chest, one for the portocath (needed
for chemo), one long one from the removal of the
tumor and kidney, and one small one from the drain
on her kidney.
Side effects will show up in the coming weeks and
Tanya, Shawn and family are resolute in their
efforts to give their baby every attention she needs
to recover “no matter what.” The wonderful news is
that Brooklynn has been given an 80 percent cure
rate and her “Steel Magnolia” mom is certain she
will beat the disease.
The bad news is that this family has no insurance
and the hospital bills now total over $100,000 and
are growing by the day. Shawn has a good job as an
industrial electrician but does not begin to make
the kind of money that could cover Brooklynn’s
medical expenses. One would think that this kind of
trouble would leave a family in tatters, but Tanya
says that “Shawn and I take turns taking care of
each other and have grown even closer from this
tragedy.” They have such a profound faith in God and
feel grateful because, “at least we are are able to
bring our daughter home from the hospital where we
have seen that so many parents cannot.”
So, what is to come of Brooklynn Adams? If you
spend any time around her family, you will know that
not only is she going to survive, but she is sure to
thrive through the love and faith of her family,
friends, medical staff and community. Stephen
Grellet wrote ... “I expect to pass through this
world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I
can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow
human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor
neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
There is a fund set up for Brooklynn at
Woodforest Bank called the Brooklynn Adams Benefit
Fund. Anyone can go to any Woodforest location and
deposit money into this fund with this information
alone. This is a family that needs your help and it
is our hope at That! Texas Magazine that you will be
inspired to help them out.
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