Happy Holidays from OncoGirl!
Cleared a bone scan, drafted a pediatric cancer PSA for Mark Herzlich, and added a swimming stroke.
Happy Holidays from OncoGirl!
Many things have happened since my last update. I have been training hard at swim practice and gone to different doctors’ appointments at CHOP. I had a bit of a scare a few weeks ago when I was having back pain for several weeks. My parents told Dr. Dormans about this at my check up and he ordered a full body bone scan. I remember getting one of those when I was first diagnosed so I was pretty scared. A few days later, I had my bone scan and all is clear. My doctors think this is more due to training hard and my back does feel better now that I am training harder on a regular basis. You might think that a bone scan is kind of extreme to get to the bottom of back pain but after having Ewings, you can’t be too careful.
I have entered the 8th grade and will be graduating Middle School this year. My Make-A-Wish is getting closer to being granted. My wish was to have a public service announcement, with Mark Herzlich of the New York Giants, about raising awareness for pediatric cancer. We went over the first draft of the script with representatives from the Make-A-Wish chapter for New Jersey and the Script has been “Rachel-approved.” It will now be sent to Mark and the Giants for their approval.
As many of you know, I am a competitive swimmer. Training has been getting pretty hard over the past few weeks and I can definitely feel it afterwards. I have been introduced to new events this year such as the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, and the 200 backstroke (which I will be swimming in a few weeks). Dr. Dormans has now allowed me to swim Breaststroke. This has been such great news to me because now I can swim all four strokes.
For those that celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas – and have a safe and healthy New Year!
I am so excited to be on winter break and out of school. Most of the break I plan on hanging out at home, and going to swim practice. For Christmas, what I really want is a cure for cancer. Until that happens, I’m going to keep working to raise awareness and funding for research.
Congrats, Rachel, on all fronts.— healthman- Rachel, I have read each entry of your blog and I am impressed at your bravery and courage far beyond your years! I believe your Make-A-Wish dream will become a reality and you will continue your journey to spread awareness of pediatric cancer. May you and your family continue to be blessed with health and happiness in 2013!— jennyL
- You are such an inspiration and so happy that everything is working out for you. Never give up on your dreams. Best wishes in the new year and all your future endeavors.— japinsky
- Rachel you are proving that anything is possible! You are an inspiration to all!! Love you and keep it up!— OliviaRinke
- Rachel, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and I know you will have a wonderful New Year. Good luck with your swimming events, [It will make you strong as a bull] LUCKY YOU! I will be praying that your Make A Wish dream comes true!
Love You! HAPPY NEW YEAR
Aunt Suz— OliviaRinke - Rachel,I have been reading through your blog. What a wonderful young lady you are. My prayers are with you! Keep up the good work.— sherry-schultz-harris
- Rachael, Hope you had a merry christmas and the happiest new year. You are such an amazing young lady. The courage and strength you have shown in the last couple years just amazes me. You worked so hard to get back to your swimming and you beat it. I can't wait to see your Make a Wish come true, you so deserve it. You are such a caring and unselfish young lady to think of others for your Make A Wish dream. Love you Gail M.— auntgail
- You truly are inspirational Rachel. Glad to hear that everything went well with the bone scan. This is an amazing blog that should be read by everyone!
P.S. This is actually Rebecca and I love your picture...it makes me think of the olympics.— OliviaRinke - HELLO DEAR RACHEL..JUST READ THE JOURNAL HISTORY...CLEAR SCANS IS THE BEST NEWS. LUCAS, TOO, HAD THIS SAME GREAT NEWS. YOUR SWIMMING ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE TO BE COMMENDED. YOU ARE A STRONG, LIVELY, SMART-COOKIE YOUNG LADY!!! GOOD LUCK ON ADMISSION TO HIGH SCHOOL. YOUR MAKE-A-WISH IS PHENOMENAL. THANK YOU FOR THE VOICE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS. MY HUGS AND PRIDE ARE SENT TO YOU.
WITH HOPE, FAITH, BELIEF AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS YOU AND LUCAS CONTINUE TO STAY HOME......— MARYCALLENDER
Since first grade, Rachel has been swimming with the Monmouth Barracudas, a year-round competitive United States Swimming Club program. She hopes to continue competitive swimming after her cancer treatment; if not, she envisions coaching someday or maybe a career in medicine. Figure skating and jazz dancing have been big parts of her life. One of the things she hates about being in the hospital is missing her dog Cocoa and her many friends.
Rachel's doctors
These are the key physicians overseeing Rachel’s care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
Naomi Balamuth, pediatric oncologist, specializes in treating pediatric sarcomas, a subset of solid
tumors.
Richard B. Womer, pediatric oncologist, led studies of the latest chemotherapy treatment protocol
for Ewing’s sarcoma.
John P. Dormans, M.D., chief of orthopaedic surgery, is an international expert in the surgical
treatment of musculoskeletal tumors.
Timeline of Rachel Kovach’s Treatment
Dec. 3, 2010: Pain in Rachel's right knee is initially diagnosed as tendinitis.
Jan. 20: An MRI reveals a tumor in right leg.
Jan 24: Rachel sees John Dormans, chief of orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Jan. 27: A biopsy confirms Ewing's sarcoma.
February to mid-April: Regimens of chemotherapy alternate every other week. The three-drug regimen is given over two days; the two-drug regimen is given over five days.
May 3: Surgery replaces most of the right femur with a prosthesis.
May 5: A Children's Hospital team will help Rachel get out of bed.
May 10 to September: Alternating regimens of chemotherapy are to resume.
Around May 10: Physical therapy will begin in the hospital and continue for at least several months after Rachel goes home.
