Stories From the Cause
Working together, all the donors to Rady Children's Hospital make a needed difference for the children of San Diego. Stories from the Cause highlights how and why Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego needs your support. The children involved in the stories highlighted here have benefited directly from all the generous donations given to the Hospital. Part of those donations come directly from the Swipe the Cause coalition and its participating businesses like yours.
Austin's Story
"I will win my battle."
Twelve-year-old Austin has endured more than most adults do in their entire lifetimes. In his battle against leukemia, he has dealt with chemotherapy and severe complications. He has had eleven surgeries and spent months at a time in a hospital bed at Rady Children’s. He missed out on the activities he enjoys most – shooting basketballs and playing the saxophone.
In retrospect, his mother Eva realizes that there were signs that something might not be right. But, at the time, Austin’s early symptoms – muscle aches or occasional stomachaches and headaches – seemed inconsequential. It wasn’t until they were returning from a family vacation that his symptoms seemed severe enough to warrant an emergency trip to Rady Children’s. After blood tests and a bone marrow aspiration, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (also called Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells. It is the most common leukemia in children. Last year, 5,200 new cases of ALL were diagnosed in the United States – an average of 6 out of 100,000. It appears most often in children younger than 10.
Now he is doing everything he can to beat the cancer, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Austin also gives back to other kids with cancer. He speaks at fundraisers, even playing his saxophone at the Dale Donnelly Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Rady Children’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Despite all the hardships and setbacks, on some level, Austin’s multi-year odyssey is seen as a blessing. It has brought his family closer: mother Eva, father Willy and his three sisters, Angel, Katie and Aimee. Members of his extended family live nearby and have rallied around him. The 4th and 5th grade classes at his school in Rancho San Diego made Austin 1,000 golden-colored cranes. Their church, St. Luke’s, has nurtured the family’s faith and surrounded them with prayers. Most of all, Austin’s ordeal has taught all of them not to take anything in life for granted.
Austin is convinced he is going to beat his nemesis. “I don’t like cancer, but if I stay strong, take my medicine, and think happy thoughts, I will win my battle.”
In retrospect, his mother Eva realizes that there were signs that something might not be right. But, at the time, Austin’s early symptoms – muscle aches or occasional stomachaches and headaches – seemed inconsequential. It wasn’t until they were returning from a family vacation that his symptoms seemed severe enough to warrant an emergency trip to Rady Children’s. After blood tests and a bone marrow aspiration, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (also called Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells. It is the most common leukemia in children. Last year, 5,200 new cases of ALL were diagnosed in the United States – an average of 6 out of 100,000. It appears most often in children younger than 10.
Now he is doing everything he can to beat the cancer, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Austin also gives back to other kids with cancer. He speaks at fundraisers, even playing his saxophone at the Dale Donnelly Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Rady Children’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Despite all the hardships and setbacks, on some level, Austin’s multi-year odyssey is seen as a blessing. It has brought his family closer: mother Eva, father Willy and his three sisters, Angel, Katie and Aimee. Members of his extended family live nearby and have rallied around him. The 4th and 5th grade classes at his school in Rancho San Diego made Austin 1,000 golden-colored cranes. Their church, St. Luke’s, has nurtured the family’s faith and surrounded them with prayers. Most of all, Austin’s ordeal has taught all of them not to take anything in life for granted.
Austin is convinced he is going to beat his nemesis. “I don’t like cancer, but if I stay strong, take my medicine, and think happy thoughts, I will win my battle.”