What Little Boys are Made of...
By Christina Kelly
“Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of!” We can all remember a time when we either heard or recited that very same rhyme. However, the rhyme only applies to ordinary little boys not the extraordinary like Adam Tanksley!
What makes Adam so much more than every other five year old child?
In many ways, he is just like any other boy his age. He loves baseball and enjoys playing it as often as he can. He has an older brother, Austin, and a younger sister, Alyssa. He also has a best friend called Kenju! He doesn’t, however, have a girlfriend. When asked, Adam said, “No time for one!”
So what has Adam so busy? Well, it’s the exact same thing that makes him extraordinary. Adam has cancer, Wilms Cancer Ana plastic stage 4!
Wilms’ cancer (nephroblastoma) is a malignant tumor of the kidneys. Annually, there are approximately 500 cases a year in the United States alone! Seventy-five percent of those cases are found in seemingly ordinary children; it is rare to ever find it in adults. For people like Adam, Stage 4 patients, means the presence of hematogenous metastases or Lymph node metastases. In other words, the cancer has spread from the initial site of the disease. Adam’s cancer had moved so that he now had to have radiation treatment on his neck, chest, both lungs, and abdomen.
Normally, the cure rate for Wilms’ Cancer is ninety-five percent with favorable histology and five-percent with a cure rate of thirty-five percent who had unfavorable histology. Sadly, Adam fell into the later of the two rates.
January 4th, 2008 was the beginning of an epic battle for Adam Tanksley. After being taken to the doctor for stomach pain, nausea, and a slight temperature, the family would soon learn that this was not something like appendicitis which was originally thought to be the problem. A CT scan later showed that Adam’s entire right Kidney had been encased by the tumor and had stopped functioning completely. He would have to have surgery to not only remove the tumor, but, also, have pathology biopsy it.
On January 7th, 2008, Adam was taken into surgery where he had his right kidney removed. During the surgery, several other tumors were found but they could not be removed due to the locations. The cancer had already progressed to the lungs and lymph nodes in the chest. The infected lymph nodes were found closely positioned under the heart and aorta; however, doctors were still pleased. Wilms’ Cancer is one of the “best” cancers to have due to its positive reaction to treatments.
Chemotherapy and Radiation were the required treatments in order to battle this rare pediatric cancer. Adam received 123 rounds of chemotherapy and 18 days of radiation treatment.
While on treatment, Adam has also had to battle with several lung infections, including pneumonia and aspergillus. He had to be admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to the aspergillus. During his five week stay in the PICU, Adam’s heart stopped and he had to resuscitate. For the next three weeks he had to remain on life support with seven different tubes coming out of his chest. Adam also had multiple holes in his lungs (pnuemothorax) and had to have surgery to remove the fluid on his lung. He also received a G-tube to help supplement his nutrition.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of Adam’s troubles. The right side of his heart failed which resulted in pulmonary hypertension. The doctors also found that his liver was significantly enlarged. His entire hospital stay throughout these “events” ended up being a total of eighty-three days. In total, Adam has spent 310 out of 365 days in the hospital!
As of right December, Adam has finished his treatments. He no longer has to take medications nor does he have anything coming out of his body. For the next four in half years, Adam will be kept under close observations to see if his cancer will return. He will have to visit the hospital on occasion to have scans and blood work. Other than that, Adam is living a pretty normal life once again.
For example, on August 22nd, Adam attended a kids fishing tournament sponsored and held by the United Special Sportsman Alliance (U.S.S.A)
The USSA, a nationwide wish granting charity providing cost free outdoor trips to disabled and or critically-ill children and their families, was established in 2000. Even though it is still a relatively new organization, this charity has granted over 5,400 wishes in 34 states! They strive to not only grant wishes, but, also, to help make pleasant memories that will last a lifetime for each child and their families. For Adam Tanksley, they did just that!
With just a few days left until school starts, Adam woke up along with his parents and older brother, Austin, to head down to Mount Island Lake. A group of nine kids and one young adult made gathered to participate in the day’s activities. Adam waited anxiously along with his family for the boats to arrive. He didn’t have to wait long. The bass boats all arrived together, turning the bin and creating large white waves behind them. Soon after they docked, instructions were given out along with Rods, bait, and the option to choose your ‘ride’. Adam and his family all climbed in a boat together and were the very first to take off. Adam and his family were also the last to return to the meeting spot. He had managed to catch a fish all on his own!
After eating a nice meal, awards were passed out. Adam received a trophy with a bass fish on the top of it. He also was given his very own tackle box to go along with his fishing pole. Adam gave his professional fisherman and boat chauffer for the day a thank you plaque.
After a few pictures, Adam dashed off to go fishing at the shore. He didn’t want the fishing fun to end! Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Adam left with his family, saddened at having to leave all the fun behind. He had, however, had a long day and was on the verge of falling asleep in his mother’s arms. Over all, it was a fun filled day full of fish, food, and, well, fun, fun, FUN!
For more information and to keep up with Adam Tanksley, please feel free to visit his caring bridge site:
www.caringbridge.com/AdamTanksley
To learn more about the U.S.S.A organization and read up on other stories like Adam’s, please feel free to visit their website:
www.childswish.com
By Christina Kelly
“Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of!” We can all remember a time when we either heard or recited that very same rhyme. However, the rhyme only applies to ordinary little boys not the extraordinary like Adam Tanksley!
What makes Adam so much more than every other five year old child?
In many ways, he is just like any other boy his age. He loves baseball and enjoys playing it as often as he can. He has an older brother, Austin, and a younger sister, Alyssa. He also has a best friend called Kenju! He doesn’t, however, have a girlfriend. When asked, Adam said, “No time for one!”
So what has Adam so busy? Well, it’s the exact same thing that makes him extraordinary. Adam has cancer, Wilms Cancer Ana plastic stage 4!
Wilms’ cancer (nephroblastoma) is a malignant tumor of the kidneys. Annually, there are approximately 500 cases a year in the United States alone! Seventy-five percent of those cases are found in seemingly ordinary children; it is rare to ever find it in adults. For people like Adam, Stage 4 patients, means the presence of hematogenous metastases or Lymph node metastases. In other words, the cancer has spread from the initial site of the disease. Adam’s cancer had moved so that he now had to have radiation treatment on his neck, chest, both lungs, and abdomen.
Normally, the cure rate for Wilms’ Cancer is ninety-five percent with favorable histology and five-percent with a cure rate of thirty-five percent who had unfavorable histology. Sadly, Adam fell into the later of the two rates.
January 4th, 2008 was the beginning of an epic battle for Adam Tanksley. After being taken to the doctor for stomach pain, nausea, and a slight temperature, the family would soon learn that this was not something like appendicitis which was originally thought to be the problem. A CT scan later showed that Adam’s entire right Kidney had been encased by the tumor and had stopped functioning completely. He would have to have surgery to not only remove the tumor, but, also, have pathology biopsy it.
On January 7th, 2008, Adam was taken into surgery where he had his right kidney removed. During the surgery, several other tumors were found but they could not be removed due to the locations. The cancer had already progressed to the lungs and lymph nodes in the chest. The infected lymph nodes were found closely positioned under the heart and aorta; however, doctors were still pleased. Wilms’ Cancer is one of the “best” cancers to have due to its positive reaction to treatments.
Chemotherapy and Radiation were the required treatments in order to battle this rare pediatric cancer. Adam received 123 rounds of chemotherapy and 18 days of radiation treatment.
While on treatment, Adam has also had to battle with several lung infections, including pneumonia and aspergillus. He had to be admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to the aspergillus. During his five week stay in the PICU, Adam’s heart stopped and he had to resuscitate. For the next three weeks he had to remain on life support with seven different tubes coming out of his chest. Adam also had multiple holes in his lungs (pnuemothorax) and had to have surgery to remove the fluid on his lung. He also received a G-tube to help supplement his nutrition.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of Adam’s troubles. The right side of his heart failed which resulted in pulmonary hypertension. The doctors also found that his liver was significantly enlarged. His entire hospital stay throughout these “events” ended up being a total of eighty-three days. In total, Adam has spent 310 out of 365 days in the hospital!
As of right December, Adam has finished his treatments. He no longer has to take medications nor does he have anything coming out of his body. For the next four in half years, Adam will be kept under close observations to see if his cancer will return. He will have to visit the hospital on occasion to have scans and blood work. Other than that, Adam is living a pretty normal life once again.
For example, on August 22nd, Adam attended a kids fishing tournament sponsored and held by the United Special Sportsman Alliance (U.S.S.A)
The USSA, a nationwide wish granting charity providing cost free outdoor trips to disabled and or critically-ill children and their families, was established in 2000. Even though it is still a relatively new organization, this charity has granted over 5,400 wishes in 34 states! They strive to not only grant wishes, but, also, to help make pleasant memories that will last a lifetime for each child and their families. For Adam Tanksley, they did just that!
With just a few days left until school starts, Adam woke up along with his parents and older brother, Austin, to head down to Mount Island Lake. A group of nine kids and one young adult made gathered to participate in the day’s activities. Adam waited anxiously along with his family for the boats to arrive. He didn’t have to wait long. The bass boats all arrived together, turning the bin and creating large white waves behind them. Soon after they docked, instructions were given out along with Rods, bait, and the option to choose your ‘ride’. Adam and his family all climbed in a boat together and were the very first to take off. Adam and his family were also the last to return to the meeting spot. He had managed to catch a fish all on his own!
After eating a nice meal, awards were passed out. Adam received a trophy with a bass fish on the top of it. He also was given his very own tackle box to go along with his fishing pole. Adam gave his professional fisherman and boat chauffer for the day a thank you plaque.
After a few pictures, Adam dashed off to go fishing at the shore. He didn’t want the fishing fun to end! Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Adam left with his family, saddened at having to leave all the fun behind. He had, however, had a long day and was on the verge of falling asleep in his mother’s arms. Over all, it was a fun filled day full of fish, food, and, well, fun, fun, FUN!
For more information and to keep up with Adam Tanksley, please feel free to visit his caring bridge site:
www.caringbridge.com/AdamTanksley
To learn more about the U.S.S.A organization and read up on other stories like Adam’s, please feel free to visit their website:
www.childswish.com
