The Story So Far
Mary Catherine O'Brien (Catie) blessed us with her presence on April 23rd, 2001.
Catie was first diagnosed with a spinal tumor on June 17th, 2008 after two and a half weeks of doctors visits, testing, and many sleepless nights because of severe pain she was having in her right leg and hip. When she had her first MRI, the doctors found a 6cm tumor filling the bottom of her spinal column and wrapped around the base of her spinal cord. Catie had surgery to remove the tumor on June 19th, 2008, and the surgeon was successful in removing the tumor without damaging the spinal cord or the nerve bundles at the base of the spinal column.
Unfortunately, the tumor was determined to be a high grade extremely rare form of cancer called an ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rabdoid Tumor). This type of brain tumor, (all tumors of the central nervous system whether located in the brain or the spinal column are referred to as brain tumors), is very difficult to treat, and a combination of high dose radiation to the entire brain-spinal column area along with aggressive chemotherapy and stem-cell recovery is the prescribed treatment. Because Catie's type of tumor, and its location in the spine instead of the brain is so unique, (12 reported cases in the last 20 years), the prognosis is uncertain; there simply is not enough evidence to know what Catie's outcome will be.
As parents, we hope, and pray, and believe that she will get through this and that we will be together again as a family. Catie has four sisters, Maggie who is 10, Mia who is 6, Molly, who is 4, and M.E. who is 2, and she has a 9 year old brother, Max. They all miss her very much, and with God's help and your prayers, she will be back with them sometime next spring, (March 2009). Christine, Catie's mom, is with Catie in
We are blessed to have the love, support, and prayers of not only our family and dearest friends, but literally thousands of people who visit this site and keep Catie and our family in their hearts and minds on a daily basis, and we are forever grateful to all of you. Please come back and visit us often. As we update the page, you will receive a notice that there is new information. Remember to sign in to the guestbook and leave a message for Catie, they mean so much to her as she goes through her daily battles. We are so proud of her courage, attitude, and desire to beat this disease, and with your support and God's healing touch, that is exactly what we will do.
God bless you,
Christine and Kevin
