Jesslyn’s journey continues

GOD’S GRACE

Editor’s Note: There has been faithfully following the story of Baby Jesslyn Grace. Through the process many in their church laughed, cried and prayed alongside the Kaikala’s through each report believing for something supernatural to happen. Through the many ups and downs, her story was bound to hit a climax; either way, people would be encouraged through the faith and courage of this family’s battle against cancer, and the God they serve.

In last week’s article, it was noted that the Kaikalas first started to notice there was a problem.

Through the encouragement of friends, family and the love for their daughter, and maybe a little curiosity they went to the doctors.

It was then on Tuesday the 19th of March, in Atlanta Texas she was first seen for the first time. It was then that they first heard of the word “Retinoblastoma.” They “were told that Jesslyn Grace had massive tumors behind each eye, 100% of her vision was blocked by the tumors in her right eye and that 90% of her vision was blocked in her left eye. At most, she could only see out of her peripheral in her left,” said Rebecca, “She was completely unresponsive to light.”

Once their daughter was a diagnosis they immediately they began scheduling her an appointment with a specialist in Shreveport LA, about an hour’s drive away. Thankfully says Ala and Rebecca, “due to the severity of her diagnosis, they managed to squeeze her in for an appointment the very next day.”

During this time they received support from their Pastors, the church and other loved ones who committed themselves to prayer and fasting.

So on Wednesday, March 20th, says Ala and Rebecca “we made our way to the specialist in Shreveport Louisiana hoping for a better diagnosis …for some form of hope or a kind of treatment plan. Unfortunately, they just confirmed the original diagnosis; A severe case of “Retinoblastoma” which would require chemo and very possibly, the removal of one or both eyes.”

“Unfortunately,” said the Kaikala’s, “they also were unequipped to treat Jesslyn Grace so we were referred to another specialist out of Houston. (In fact), they were sent there immediately. We were given no opportunity to return home to pack any bags or make arrangements for our other 3 children or to set our house in order.”

“It was THAT bad,” said the Kaikala’s, “we were told that if her eyes could be saved that Houston was where it could be done but that time, was not on our side. We had to move quickly.

“After arriving in Houston, she underwent exams under anesthesia (EUA’s), an ultrasound and a sonogram. The results confirmed the first two diagnoses were correct however they did give us a more hopeful prognosis for her future.

They were much more experienced in treating Retinoblastoma, in fact, Retinoblastoma was their specialty,” they continued.

The specialists “felt that through intra-arterial chemotherapy (which is chemotherapy delivered through the femoral artery in the groin, that travels directly to the back of the orbits of the eyes) that they could target these tumors and possibly save one if not BOTH her eyes, however, her vision was not a guarantee. Prior to her first chemo treatment, they performed a spinal tap, a bone marrow draw, and an MRI of her brain to exclude the possibility of other tumors elsewhere. If found, they would alter the type of chemo that they would perform.”

Strangely at that point, “All came back clean,” said Ala and Rebecca.

“Genetic testing was also done, since her retinoblastoma was bilateral…meaning in BOTH eyes.

Unfortunately, that result was not what we would have liked. Jesslyn Grace tested positive for a gene mutation called RB-1. She had a misprint in her DNA and was missing the tumor suppressor gene,” said Rebecca.

Ala remembers that that point that, “generational curses began spilling out of the doctor’s mouths saying that she would battle all her life with various forms of cancer, that she was extra susceptible to acquiring other tumors, skin cancers etc. We were told that should she have children that she would need to undergo genetic counseling …that she would have a 50 percent chance of passing this disease down to every child she carried.”

Ali said they wouldn’t have any of that talk, “We rebuked this negative information right away.

It didn’t line up with the Word or who we knew our God to be.”

The Kaikala’s were informed that “after just one treatment….the doctors there in Houston came to us and said…it’s not gonna work…we can’t take the risk, we can’t see the optic nerve, we can’t tell if its invading the optic nerve and if it ever does it will have access to her whole body.

The tumors would turn systemic and could possibly lead to her brain and vital organs...her life would be in jeopardy.”

Removal of the eye is the ONLY option. They were told.

Check in next for the conclusion of this article