Cancer is the leading cause of death past infancy among children in the USA.
This has devastated many lives leaving parents into turmoil.
When Lennox Allen was only two, he began experiencing a regular episode of morning vomits. At first, his parents Greg and Carly weren’t too cautious of their son’s condition as Lennox’s older brother, Austin, has had similar episodes when he was younger.
However, it was meant to be different for Lennox. He became more lethargic, walking with a wobbly gait. This was when his parents decided to take him to the emergency room in Gainesville, Florida.
Upon diagnosis, little Lennox was found to have a rare case of the atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). It is a rare cancer that only hits 30 US children every year.
Fortunately, after undergoing several rounds of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, Lennox is now cancer-free.
Carly, Lennox’s mom, said in an interview that they were clear that their son’s vomiting was abnormal. She said that Lennox would grab his head before vomiting and that he acted starved and hungry immediately after throwing up.
Carly said that Lennox would come to her after throwing up and tell her that he is hungry and would love to have cereal.
Worried, Carly took Lennox to the pediatrician where they gave him a gastrointestinal workup.
However, Gary, Lennox’s father, who is a family medicine resident, was doubtful. He took Lennox to the University of Florida Shands Pediatric emergency room, where the doctors performed a CT scan.
The doctors found that Lennox had a tumor in the brain, which was later confirmed as ATRT.
It is a fast-growing cancer that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Its symptoms include vomiting, nausea, abnormally fast head growth, loss of balance, and headaches.
Gladly, Lennox’s tumor was entirely resected through surgery followed by several courses of radiation and chemotherapy to ensure that the tumor doesn’t resurrect.
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