Sebastian's Story

"Sebastian was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) on March 15, 2007, at the age of five. He had a low platelet count, so we went to The Valerie Fund Center at Overlook Hospital to consult with Dr. Fritz. While we waited for the results of some additional tests Dr. Fritz had ordered, we spent four hours in the waiting room, where Sebastian was able to play and interact with one of the Child Life specialists. If it wasn’t for her, the long wait would have been torture for him. The next day, Sebastian was admitted to [...] the hospital and was officially diagnosed with ALL. Our entire world fell apart. My husband and I were devastated by the news. The team of professionals were our salvation. They explained things to us, they held our hands, they brought the tissues. They made us feel that the chances of our boy being cured were great. Sebastian always received an answer to his questions that was both truthful and compassionate. The staff empowered him by explaining every phase of his treatment. For example, Sebastian was scared of losing his hair and they talked to him about it; he was concerned about the “bad” taste of the medicines and they tried to change it as much as they could. There was always someone that he could talk to through his ups and downs. After his first seven months of chemo, Sebastian was able to go back to school. He was bald, his face was swollen from the steroids, and he was weak from the medication. Before his return, social workers went to his school and talked to his classmates and teachers about the nature of his condition and the importance of keeping him away from germs. They also showed the kids a wonderful movie to help them understand what Sebastian was going through. Sebastian still has a very long road ahead of him. He will be undergoing chemotherapy for the next two years. But right now he has a very normal life and goes to school almost every day. He is a very happy child, who is very aware of his condition but has a strong passion for life. "