When eight-year-old Coleen Gardiner was diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor, her mother thought her world was coming to an end.
Coleen was diagnosed with this rare kidney cancer, also called nephroblastoma, on June 23.
“She returned from school with a swollen abdomen and we thought it might be her appendix causing the pain,” says Natasha Gardiner, her mother.
However, they were informed this was not the case after several tests including a computed tomography (CT) scan and X-rays, were done at the Netcare N17 Hospital.
Natasha says the next day he (the doctor) informed them it was kidney cancer, known as Wilms’ Tumor.
Shock and the fear of losing her daughter was all Natasha and her husband Brendon could think of.
To keep Coleen as comfortable as possible the doctor prescribed pain medication.
The Gardiner family received final confirmation of the diagnosis from a doctor at Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg.
“A biopsy was done on June 26 and the doctor confirmed she has stage four kidney cancer,” says Natasha.
The cancerous tumor is in the left kidney and has spread to the kidney tubes.
Since Coleen’s diagnosis, she has been undergoing weekly chemotherapy and has lost weight.
Her chemo treatment started on July 11 and Monday will be her 16th session.
Natasha explains the treatment is being done weekly and Coleen is currently at stage one of the treatment plan.
“One week includes a three-day session where Coleen receives three sessions per day, two the next and one session on the third day.
“The following week will only be a one-day session,” says Natasha.
She says the chemo is definitely helping Coleen because hospital reports showed the tumor has shrunk by 40 per cent.
“The cancer in her kidney is reacting positively to the treatment, but this is not true of a piece in the liver.
“A biopsy is needed to remove this tumor,” says Natasha.
Before Coleen received her first treatment, a port was inserted at the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton.
“The chemo is inserted directly into the vein,” she says.
The recuperation period after each session is difficult for Coleen and she struggles to keep food and liquid down.
We will know by next Wednesday if Coleen’s blood count is high enough to undergo an operation to remove her affected kidney.
As a result of the treatment, this Grade Two learner is too sick to attend school but her teacher Taylor Sachse from Rainbow Education Centre regularly visits her to give her the educational support needed.
When Coleen’s hair fell out her main concern, which she expressed ti Natasha, was to ask whether she was still beautiful.
Reverend Charlie Wernich from the Selcourt Methodist Church says it was merely hair and she was still lovely.
The church hosted an impromptu shavathon two weeks ago to show their support.
He shaved all his hair off in support of Coleen.
The Gardiner family is overwhelmed by the number of messages and phone calls they have received during this period.
Natasha says everybody has been so supportive and they are grateful to those who have prayed for them and Coleen.
