COLE WALKER

Welcome to our Child Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about our Child. One day you have a healthy, happy baby and the next day your life is forever changed. This is the story of a very brave 14 month old boy, Richard Cole Walker. Cole was doing well and developing normally up until about six months. We noticed that Cole was not sitting up yet and he also tilted his head to the left alot. We blew it off at first because babies develop their motor skills at different ages.
On April 30th, when cole was still not sitting up at 7 months, we took him to our local pediatrician for a professional opinion. We were shocked to find out that Cole's head circumference had grown two centimeters in only two weeks. We were sent to Grenada Lake Medical Center for bloodwork and a CT scan of the head. The CT scan showed a buildup of spinal fluid around the brain. We were immediately sent to Lebonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN. Cole had to have more tests at Lebonheur.
On May 1st, we were told by our doctor, Stephanie Einhaus, that Cole had a tennis ball-sized tumor in the back of his brain. Cole underwent emergency surgery on May 3rd. After 10 hours of surgery, about 85% of the tumor was removed. On May 7th, the remainder of the tumor was removed. Dr. Einhaus told us the tumor was malignant but we would have to wait for the pathology report to know exactly what we were dealing with. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor,ATRT for short.
We were transferred to St. Jude on May 17th. We met our doctors, Maryam Fouladi and Tanya Tekautz. Cole had to go through many tests before treatment started. A rountine ultrasound of the kidneys showed that his right kidney had a rhabdoid tumor also. These tumors are rare but can occur in kids with ATRT. Cole's right kidney was removed on May 26th. Once Cole recovered from surgery, he would begin a treatment protocol. His protocol includes IV chemotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy(chemo given into the spinal fluid), and radiation. On June 16th, we had a CT Scan that showed the brain tumor had grown back to the size of a walnut. We were just crushed but continued with treatment.
Cole wasn't able to take a bottle or eat enough to sustain him. He had a stomach tube placed in the end of July. Cole wasn't able to tolerate tube feedings. He was placed on TPN, which means he is being fed through his veins.
We have had many hospitalizations for various infections and bouts with vomiting but Cole is doing well right now. Cole had a routine MRI of the brain on October 14th. By the grace of God, the remaining tumor was gone!!! We are currently undergoing six weeks of localized radiation to the brain and kidney area. We will have a short break and then complete five more courses of chemotherapy.
With your continued prayers and our faith, we will soon be on our way home and to a full recovery!

Journal

Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:45 PM CDT

We had a baby! Alyssa Rheann Walker was born on Oct. 2nd at 349pm. She weighed 8lb and was 19.5 inches long. I hate that I haven't been able to update regularly but my blood pressure started to creep up in the last few weeks of pregnancy and I was having to go back and forth to Jackson every few days for check-ups and the doctor was saying bring your husband cause you might have a baby today. So we were all on edge. I made it to 37 weeks and was sent from the office to be admitted for a c-section on the 2nd due to high blood pressure. I had to be added to the surgery schedule and started to have contractions so I was glad things worked out they way the did. The section went fine and now we have a sweet little black-headed baby. She is cute and has big, chubby cheeks. She is really a good baby. She is doing good with breast feeding. Night time is getting better. She usually sleeps three to four hours at a time but sometimes a little less than that. I am recovering nicely from surgery. We are just thrilled to have this wonderful little creature in our lives. Update with a picture soon.

Hospital Information:

1925 Tuscola Drive
Grenada, MS 38901
662-294-1098

E-mail Author: lacysmail@hotmail.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.