November was all the time a busy time for the Franco household of Colusa. Youngest son, Isaac, was turning 2 in a number of weeks. It was additionally the anniversary of Grandpa’s loss of life and the Francos had a cousin’s birthday celebration to attend. Heaps on the calendar … and one thing that wasn’t: one other physician go to to attempt to discover out what was occurring with Isaac.
“He was an enormous, wholesome child and had all the time been a superb eater, however that had modified,” stated Daisy Franco, Isaac’s mom. “Plus, he had low vitality and recurring fevers. I took him in a number of occasions, however there was no analysis. When his pores and skin modified coloration, I made one other appointment.”
November 2016: Vacation spot unknown
It was November 7, 2016. Franco arrived on the physician’s workplace with Isaac and insisted on a blood take a look at although she had been beforehand advised it was possible a virus.
“Our physician was out of city, so we had an appointment with the nurse practitioner who had not seen Isaac earlier than,” Franco stated. “She trusted that as his mother, I knew my son. And that once I stated one thing wasn’t proper, one thing wasn’t proper.” They ran a Full Blood Depend (CBC). Mom’s instinct proved appropriate.
That afternoon – the anniversary of her father’s loss of life from most cancers and in the midst of her cousin’s social gathering – Daisy acquired a name about Isaac’s labs.
“The nurse practitioner advised me to jot down some numbers down, pack a bag and take Isaac to UC Davis Youngsters’s Hospital instantly,” Franco stated. “I hung up the cellphone and turned to my mother and stated, ‘I believe Isaac could have leukemia.’”
The nurse practitioner advised me to jot down some numbers down, pack a bag and take Isaac to UC Davis Youngsters’s Hospital instantly. I hung up the cellphone and turned to my mother and stated, ‘I believe Isaac could have leukemia.’” —Daisy Franco, Isaac’s mother
Put the pedal to the steel
When the Franco’s arrived that night time, Daisy distinctly remembers how welcoming the workers was. She shared her fears about most cancers and the workforce reassured her that regardless of the analysis, her son was in the most effective fingers.
“There have been eight to 10 docs and nurses, out and in, whereas they admitted Isaac and waited for extra outcomes. It already felt like household,” Franco stated. “Then I met Dr. Marcio. He was on name that night time. He was so caring and understanding. I knew we have been in the correct place.”
Marcio Malogolowkin, affectionately often known as Dr. Marcio, is the chief of pediatric oncology/hematology at UC Davis Complete Most cancers Heart. Identified for his mild bedside method and large experience, he would show to be simply what the Franco household wanted to face the trials forward. That, and little Isaac’s superb combating spirit.
“I acquired the official analysis and my coronary heart sank. I used to be numb,” Franco stated. “After I lastly began to cry, Dr. Marcio acquired some tissues and Isaac grabbed the field from him. My child wiped away my tears. From that second, I knew we have been going to get by way of this.”
“From the start, Isaac was a pleasant youngster to deal with. I may inform he favored and trusted me,” Malogolowkin stated. “The Francos embraced the therapy, so it was an exquisite partnership. It’s a testomony to the care workforce and household working collectively.”
I acquired the official analysis, and my coronary heart sank. I used to be numb. After I lastly began to cry, Dr. Marcio acquired some tissues and Isaac grabbed the field from him. My child wiped away my tears. From that second, I knew we have been going to get by way of this.” —Daisy Franco, Isaac’s mother
The lengthy journey by way of therapy
Chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was about to get underway. ALL is a sort of most cancers through which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a sort of white blood cell). Leukemia could have an effect on purple blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Isaac’s therapy started in November 2016. He would spend his second birthday on the kids’s hospital and was admitted once more inside weeks. His most cancers therapy would proceed for years.
Throughout that point, Isaac was typically hospitalized and made numerous journeys to the pediatric infusion heart. Franco says her son not solely acquired superb medical care, however he additionally acquired the emotional help he wanted. She credit the Youngster Life and Inventive Arts Remedy Division for applications like Beads of Braveness, interactions with the power canine and music remedy for making the therapy way more tolerable.
“He loves Huggie the power canine and even discovered to play drums whereas he was there. Dr. Marcio known as him the ‘Little Drummer Boy,’” Franco chuckled. “This was our residence for 3 years. They’re like our household. I can’t thank the workforce sufficient for serving to Isaac make the most effective of this time.”
The Francos embraced the therapy, so it was an exquisite partnership. It’s a testomony to the care workforce and household working collectively.” —Marcio Malogolowkin, chief, pediatric oncology/hematology at UC Davis Complete Most cancers Heart
November 2019: A worthwhile journey
All through therapy, Isaac remained the courageous and empathetic boy who had dried his mother’s tears at simply 2 years outdated. Mother, Daisy, says it’s what acquired her by way of her son’s sickness.
“He had IV chemo by way of a port and needed to take oral chemo two to a few occasions a day for 3 years and by no means fought it. He needed to have lumbar punctures, too, and I used to be advised he dealt with it higher than most adults,” Franco stated. “He’s a powerful, resilient boy who wouldn’t be taken down by this.”
And he wasn’t. In November 2019, Isaac had his final therapy. He was cancer-free.
“November is an emotional month for us,” Franco stated. “Isaac’s birthday is November 21 and never solely was he recognized in November, he accomplished therapy two days earlier than his fifth birthday. We had rather a lot to have fun that 12 months.”
The highway forward
Just a few extra Novembers later, the Francos are nonetheless celebrating and solely make the drive to UC Davis Youngsters’s Hospital a pair occasions a 12 months. Isaac’s prognosis is nice, and he loves enjoying soccer, watching Raiders soccer and going to the ocean. Oh, and drumming.
“Isaac has all the time had an awesome angle. I imply, have you ever seen him play the drums?” Malogolowkin quipped. “He performs his coronary heart out after which throws down the sticks. It’s implausible! My ‘Little Drummer Boy’ made it.”
“We didn’t know what would occur, however right here we’re in second grade,” Franco stated. “Isaac is similar candy boy with the massive coronary heart. He endured and so did we. We couldn’t be extra pleased with him and extra grateful to UC Davis and Dr. Marcio for saving his life.”
UC Davis Youngsters’s Hospital is the Sacramento area’s solely nationally ranked, complete hospital offering take care of infants, kids, adolescents and younger adults with major, subspecialty and significant care. It contains the Central Valley’s solely pediatric emergency division and stage I pediatric trauma heart, which presents the very best stage of take care of its critically ailing sufferers, in addition to a stage I kids’s surgical procedure heart. The 129-bed kids’s hospital contains the state-of-the-art 49-bed neonatal and 24-bed pediatric intensive care and pediatric cardiac intensive care items. For extra data, go to kids.ucdavis.edu.
