Rowan finishing third course of chemo

In April she’ll undergo a series of scans to determine if a tumor has shrunk small enough for her doctors to declare she’s beaten cancer once again.

Rowan was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a kidney cancer that affects young children, in November 2012. After surgery to remove her right kidney and a six-month course of chemotherapy, her doctors declared her cancer-free.

That changed in July 2014 when Rowan had a follow-up exam and doctors told her mother, Aimee Green, that a CAT scan had revealed a localized reoccurrence of the cancer.

During surgery to remove it, they found it was wrapped under her liver and against her spine and couldn’t be completely excised.

Rowan’s oncologists decided to attack and shrink the tumor with 24 weeks of intense inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy and radiation at University of Vermont Medical Center.

She suffered a host of side effects, including hair loss, low red-blood cell counts, and neutropenia, which occurs when chemotherapy temporarily destroys the immune system, making it dangerous to be near people who are sick.

“It’s been a grueling process the last eight months,” Green said.

Rowan managed to keep up with her studies, but was able to attend Stowe Elementary School only about half-time. To cover the gaps, a tutor came to her home or the hospital.

“She’s bright and vivacious and loved by her friends and family,” Green said. “The chemo and other procedures are very trying on her body. When she’s going through it, she’s very scared and sad, but when she comes out of it she’s a normal kid.”

Green hopes this round of chemotherapy will be Rowan’s last.

“The likelihood of her being done is high, especially with results of the scans done in December. They showed the tumor had shrunk considerably.”

What is her prognosis?

Children who recover from Wilms’ tumor face a 15 to 50 percent chance it will reoccur a second time. Third occurrences are much less likely.

“We have our fingers crossed that this it,” Green said. “I’m just cautious until they give us the rubber stamp of remission.”

For Green, a single mom, the most difficult part of the past several months has been having to work full-time but still be there for her daughter and two older sons.

“Keeping things normal and keeping afloat has been the most challenging for me,” Green said. “It’s hard to be fully present and to be able to fully give yourself to your job while you’re dealing with a reoccurrence of your child’s cancer.”

Neighbors and friends have been essential to Rowan and her family as they face down cancer, providing every kind of support imaginable. A friend created an account with mealtrain.com, a website that allows volunteers to sign up to cook a meal, walk the family dog, or do household chores while Green is caring for Rowan.

“It’s been really amazing,” Green said. “Everything from bringing meals, to caring for our puppy, to fundraisers.”

Rowan’s brothers, ages 11 and 13, are supportive, visiting her when she’s in the hospital and holding her hand, and both have become strong role models, Green said.

Earlier this week, Rowan’s father, Steve Dodge of Waterbury, was preparing to spend time with her at the hospital while she undergoes what he hopes will be her final chemotherapy treatment ever.

Dodge said that learning about Rowan’s second cancer diagnosis was particularly wrenching because he knew what she would go through, both emotionally and physically.

“When people ask me how you get through something like this, the answer is you just do,” Dodge said. “It provides a perspective on the things that are the most important, the things that you love the most.”

He’s in awe of Rowan’s strength.

“I’m glad my daughter is as tough and tenacious as she is,” Dodge said. “It’s unfortunate she’s had to be.”

Her brothers have been “absolutely heroic” through the experience, he said.

“They’ve lost their own childhood,” Dodge said. A lot of their priorities have taken a back seat, but they’ve never complained.”

He has shared Rowan’s story on social media and has found that it touched many people.

“She’s gone through hell, but she’s standing strong and going to school and ballet,” Dodge said. “It’s inspired others to say, ‘Maybe I don’t have it so bad.’”

He looks forward to watching his daughter grow up cancer-free.

“We’ll have hold-your-breath scans for the next five or seven years,” Dodge said. “I celebrate with her every day. Hopefully these will be last days of chemo for the rest of her life.”

To volunteer to make a meal or help with household chores, visit bit.ly/rowanmealtrain.