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  • 2008-07-21 (xsd:date)
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  • Prayer Request: Katie Fitch (fr)
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  • Example: [Collected via e-mail, July 2008] Please remember me in your prayers...Katie Fitch Katie is a beautiful little three year -old girl from Florence, SC who has just been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma. This is an extremely rare form of liver cancer that affects about one in every million children born in the United States every year. The tumor is so large that it cannot be removed until chemotherapy has been given to try to shrink it. No child should have to endure what she is going through. Please remember Katie and her family in your prayers that God may give them the strength to endure this most difficult time in their lives. A little more of Katie's story:Katie's battle with cancer began Saturday, June 21, 2008. She told her mommy that she had a 'tummy ache' and she wanted to lay down and take a nap. She did not have any energy the rest of the day nor did she want to eat. Sunday, June 22, 2008 , she again complained of a 'tummy ache'. Katie's mom, Stacie, felt her stomach and noticed a large lump. She was fearful that Katie may have a hernia so she took her to the doctor the following Monday morning. The doctor on duty called in the head of pediatrics to examine Katie to confirm his fears. The head of pediatrics called them all to his office and gave them the bad news. He told them that he felt with a 90% surety that it was cancer. He then said a prayer with this family and immediately referred Katie to the Children's Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Tuesday morning, Katie underwent a barrage of tests including blood work and CT Scans. This confirmed her diagnosis. The tumor is so large that it is pressing on her stomach, kidneys, lungs, and intestine. This tumor cannot be removed until she has undergone chemotherapy to try to shrink it so that it can be safely removed without harming her. Friday morning, June 26, 2008, Katie will have the first of many surgeries to biopsy the tumor and place a Port-A-Cath for the administration of the chemotherapy. Her battle with cancer is just beginning. Please imagine how you would feel if this were your baby enduring such a life threatening illness and say a prayer for Katie and her family. The power of prayer is tremendous and perhaps, through enough prayers, our hopes for a miracle will be answered and Katie will return home with her family to live a long, happy, healthy, and productive life as active as any normally healthy child could have.If you pass this prayer request to just 10 people, and they pass it to 10 more, and they pass it to 10 more, it reaches 1000 people with a few clicks of the mouse. Prayer works.Origins: The message quoted above, and the web site katiefitch.com, entreats readers to offer prayers for Bonnie Kathleen Katie Fitch, a 3-year-old South Carolina girl who was diagnosed in June 2008 with a hepatoblastoma (an uncommon malignant liver tumor occurring in infants and children). Katie's family put us in contact with a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Worker at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children's Hospital, who verified for us that Katie's condition was as described: Bonnie Katie Fitch is a 3-year-old female being treated at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital in Charleston, SC, for a cancerous tumor identified as a Hepatoblastoma which is currently inoperable. Her care is being directed by Dr. Michelle Hudspeth. Katie is receiving chemotherapy to shrink the tumor in hopes of [doctors'] being able to surgically remove what is left. She may require additional chemotherapy after surgery. Katie's current medical condition is very serious and prognosis is uncertain at this time. She is admitted to the hospital every three weeks for chemotherapy and is seen in the clinic weekly.Katie lives at home with her parents, Stacie Williams and Samuel Fitch Sr., and her 7-year-old sister. Her mother is unable to work due to the care Katie requires. Her father is employed but does not get paid [when] he takes off [work] to accompany Katie to her medical appointments.Katie passed away on 15 February 2009, her fourth birthday. (en)
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