Age 10, St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Samantha was born 4 weeks premature, however healthy. Her blood sugar had to be monitored closely for the first 36 hours since doctors were concerned because her mom is diabetic. Samantha was fine until April 2000 when she was diagnosed as diabetic as well. She was just getting adjusted to this when she was diagnosed with Leukemia.

In June 2001 she started to complain of pain in her right leg and had a low grade fever. After the third episode the family became very concerned. Samantha was unable to walk on her right leg and seemed lethargic and pale. Her doctor took one look at her in his office and sent Samantha straight to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Emergency Room.

The result was Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Samantha spent 10 days in the hospital. First getting a Port-A-Cath and then getting blood transfusions and chemotherapy.

Samantha’s treatment lasted 130 weeks (2.8 yrs). Her prognosis is excellent! If she remains in remission for 5 years the doctors will call her cured.

Samantha has also developed a condition known as Perthes’ Disease in her right hip because of the treatment. The steroids caused the blood supply to the thigh bone to be decreased and there were multiple micro-fractures to the part that joins the hip. She will likely have arthritis very early in life and be in need of a new hip at a young age.

Today Samantha is an energetic young girl. She enjoys Girl Scouts, bike riding, drawing, Polly Pockets and Barbies.