Pop Warner Cheerleader is an inspiration to all 8-year old Hailey Osborne continues to battle rare cancer tumor
I'm sure that some of you have noticed the article on the NATIONAL Pop Warner HOME PAGE about a courageous little girl named Hailey Osborne. She cheers for YFF Pop Warner in AZ. After reading about her illness it compelled me post this note. I encourage everyone to read the article and visit the link to her own website. www.haileyosborne.com There have been over 4000 posts and more than 337,000 visitors to the Pop Warner message boards since they became available to us in (apx.) Nov. '04 . I'm sure she and her family will appreciate all the prayers and support they can get to help them through "this journey". She sure has an incredible family!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
"Our family is a best described as a bit crazy, a lot of laughter and as close as a family can be. God's love is the glue that keeps us so close together."
On Sept 7th, 2004, Hailey Osborne, 8, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called Medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is rare with only approximately 4 in every 100,000 people affected. It is typically a childhood tumor in children 12 and under and is it more prominent in boys than girls.
Medulloblastoma is the most common primary central nervous system tumor which arises in childhood. Its management represents both the progress and limitations involved in patient care over the last 20 years.
Treatment has evolved over the past 30 years with the majority of patients requiring surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Over the past 20 years, surgery for children with medulloblastoma has become much safer.
THE OSBORNE STORY: The intent of the visit to the pediatrician was to find out why Hailey had been experiencing early morning vomiting. We were ruling out common causes such as allergies, sinus infection, stomach acid and the like. Never in our wildest dreams did we know our world would forever change that day when we received the results of the MRI.
We immediately admitted Hailey to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital where she underwent brain surgery the next day.
The Osborne family is a closely-knit group, and describe themselves as "a bit crazy, a lot of laughter and as close as a family can be." (See Photo Below) Mother Pam, Father Jeff, with son Trevor (9-years old) and daughter Madison (3-years old), all continue to show their support for Hailey.
"She is so incredible out there when she can and cheering from her wheelchair," said Cathie Ruiz, Cheer Coordinator for Arizona YFF Pop Warner. "This is so much of what our program is about!"
Post-Operation: Brain surgery was successful with the entire tumor removed.
Unfortunately, we were expecting that the tumor had not spread, but a follow-on MRI showed that it had in fact spread down the spine.
Hailey immediately began the follow-on treatment of radiation combined with chemotherapy. This process will continue for 6 weeks, beginning 9/23, followed by a 6 week period of rest. Then we move into the maintenance phase of the chemotherapy which will take an additional 6 months. Of course we will be looking at what nutritional supplements we can give her to build up her immune system to help fight recurrence of the cancer after the medial treatment is complete.
Recently, Hailey is doing very well with her treatments, and continues to recieve the support and presents from many different people. Notably,
the girls of the University of San Diego sent Hailey several gifts and cards, and adopted her as their Dorm Buddy!
As the Osborne family says,
"God is still in charge, God wrote this script and He will never leave or forsake us!" Certainly, all of our thoughts and support are with Hailey Osborne and her entire family.
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