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8 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, August 5, 2010 Teen refuses to let cancer slow her down Continued from pg. 1 were taken again of both knees. This time the X-ray showed there was a mass on her knee, something that had been missed in the first X-ray. Moriah was immediately sent to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and following an MRI was sent home reassured by doctors they didn't believe her situation was critical. But the story had changed by the next morning. The family got an 8 a.m. wake-up call from the head of oncology at Sick Kids who told them they believed the mass was a cancerous tumor, and Moriah needed to come in that week for an MRI, CT scan and bone scan. The following week the family received the devastating diagnosis. They were told the cancer was Stage 4, and that they had also found spots in Moriah's lungs, her pelvis and thigh. "They told us they were more than 80 per cent sure that this was cancer in her lungs," said Karen. "We were absolutely shocked because Moriah had just made the Georgetown Impact rep volleyball team the week before. How could this be in her lungs?" Fortunately, a follow-up biopsy done on the lung revealed the spots were not cancerous and the other lesions were deemed not to be cancer also. Moriah said she was "really in shock" when she got the cancer diagnosis. "After a year of that pain, not knowing at all, and just thinking we could have stopped this way before now. "It was the hardest in the beginning," following surgery she asked said Moriah, who admits she was a little why she hadn't heard how it angry initially. went. The plan was three months of cheHer parents had to tell her motherapy followed by surgery, starting doctors had to amputate her last October, to shrink the tumour, but leg and thought she would be unfortunately it actually got bigger. very upset. When doctors first discussed surgery "She scratched out on the they told her limb salvage surgery-- paper, `tell them thank you for where the bone and muscle affected by trying so hard,'" Karen said. the osteosarcoma are removed, leaving "There wasn't a dry eye in the a gap in the bone that is filled by either ICU. a bone graft (usually from the bone "We knew then that she was bank) or more often a special metal going to be okay, with an attiprosthesis-- would not be an option as tude like that," Karen said. the main artery ran right through the Moriah started on a new tumour. They told her she was going to course of chemotherapy in Febhave amputation of the leg just above ruary, this one with new powerthe knee. ful drugs added to the mix, said Moriah did not want the amputation Karen. She's hospitalized durand told them she really wanted the ing the chemo treatments. limb salvage surgery. The doctor reasKaren said they have recent- Moriah Kolenda at a cancer fundraising in her honsessed, and finally agreed to do the nine- ly removed the new drugs from our last fall. File photo hour limb salvage surgery, optimistic it the treatment because of the powould be successful. tency of the side effects and questions She received a new high activity leg Moriah had to provide muscle from about their efficacy on Moriah's cancer. her back and an artery from her other Sometimes the teen admits she gets in May funded through the War Amps leg to be used in the down about what's CHAMP program, and set the goal to be walking hands-free with it by July beaffected leg. happened to her. Karen said there "I try to tell my- cause she wanted to go to a concert. She were 10 doctors self there are so achieved that goal in May. Walking with the artificial leg has working on her many people who taken some getting used to, and she has daughter throughhave it worse. I try regular physiotherapy sessions to learn out the surgery that to see the positive. how to use it. ended up lasting 21 If you think about --Moriah Kolenda She does regular exercises to build hours. the negative stuff She and her husyou're going to up her leg muscles and her core. At home she sets up cups on the floor band David were make yourself sad. and maneuvers around them-- the goal frantic while they waited for word on I try to get out with friends a lot." is to get back to her passion-- volleyMoriah, and did not hear how things Karen said in most cases like Moball. were going until several hours in. riah's where someone has had a leg The family has a volleyball net set up Doctors came out with bad news. amputation, they would not get a prosMoriah's parents were told surgeons thetic until they had finished chemo- in the backyard, for both Moriah and had discovered Moriah had a rare clot- therapy treatment-- about a year after her brother Josh, also an avid volleyball player. He's 18-months older than ting problem no one could have known the surgery. about. They put her on blood thinners, But Moriah was not hearing any of Moriah and has tricuspid artesia-- a but could not get the clotting to stop. that. About three weeks after surgery, heart condition-- but is doing amazKaren said when doctors came during a physiotherapy session, she ingly well. Moriah has been able to pass out again they told them Moriah was asked if she could just try an artificial the ball back and forth to Josh since her treatment began, but is looking forward "gravely ill" and it was now about sav- leg. ing her life. They said they couldn't conThe two prosthetists immediately to when she can get back to playing like tinue with the limb salvage surgery, and said no, but Moriah's physiotherapist she did. She is also hoping to learn to run had to amputate her leg just above the suggested why not piece together somewith the prosthesis soon. knee. thing for her to try. Moriah has recently learned she will "We had to make that decision withThe prosthetists agreed and rumsoon be getting an athletic leg, one that out her knowing," which was very diffi- maged through their drawers fashionwill allow her to snowboard, rock climb, cult because they knew how much Mo- ing Moriah a leg out of some spare ice skate and rollerblade, and be better riah wanted to save her leg. parts. Moriah, with her breathing laboured, Karen said the physiotherapist and for playing volleyball. She hopes to be done with her chewas put in the intensive care unit (ICU) prosthetists could not believe it when immediately after surgery. She was on she put the leg on and could immedi- motherapy by early September and is looking forward to going back to Christ pain medication, had a breathing tube ately walk between the parallel bars. down her throat and could only com"From that day on she just hasn't the King, where she is in Grade 11, and municate with her parents by scribbling stopped. She just keeps pushing," said is eager to try out "at least for the school (volleyball) team." words on paper. Roughly seven hours Karen. `I try to tell myself there are so many people who have it worse.' Moriah Kolenda recuperating at home. 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