It started out as some abdominal pain. Amelia was first diagnosed with pneumonia and treated with antibiotics. A few months later, the pain came back. Another chest x-ray confirmed pneumonia again – but the radiologist spotted something else this time: a soft tissue mass.

Four-year-old Amelia had Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer.

Found only in children, Neuroblastoma arises in the adrenal glands, located in the abdominal area near the kidneys, and along the sympathetic nerve chain in the chest and abdomen.

Neuroblastoma spreads quickly, and often is discovered only after the disease is widespread.

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, everything changes; the way your child feels, family priorities, how time is spent, and how the future is imagined. One thing you can be certain of is the world-class care your child receives when treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Within 5 days of the diagnosis, Amelia had surgery at Nationwide Children’s to remove the tumor that was resting on her spine and aorta. With less than a 5% chance that the tumor would return, there was no chemotherapy used.

Six-months-later, in June 2015, Amelia and her parents came back to Nationwide Children’s for a routine MRI. Not only was the tumor growing back, but the cancer had spread to Amelia’s spinal column, skull, pelvis and shoulder. Her parents had to tell their little girl that day that she wasn’t going home like they had promised.

Demonstrating that good things come in small packages – Amelia, and her strong, passionate self, fought hard through 5 rounds of different chemotherapies, a bone marrow transplant, 12 rounds of radiation, 6 months of immunotherapy, a stem cell harvest, 2 surgeries and multiple other hospital admissions.

“Amelia has always been a very selfless and caring little girl. She definitely worries more about others than herself and shows her love for those around her on a daily basis. During our inpatient stays, she would always visit her ‘friends’ on the 12th floor and frequently brought gifts for the other patients when we were there. When we aren’t there, she is always planning for trips to bring toys to the children that are beginning or are still on this difficult journey,” says Christina, Amelia’s mother.

Amelia was recently told she’s in remission for the first time in 2 ½ years.

A champion and a warrior, Amelia can’t wait to cheer and support all of the participants of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon and her spread her message to “Never give up,” and “No one fights alone!”

https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Found_AmeliaGriffin_Flutter_1000x600.jpg

• Name: Amelia G.Amelia Griffin
• Condition(s): Neuroblastoma
• Age at Treatment: 4 years
• Age Today: 09/03/201013 Years

It started out as some abdominal pain. Amelia was first diagnosed with pneumonia and treated with antibiotics. A few months later, the pain came back. Another chest x-ray confirmed pneumonia again – but the radiologist spotted something else this time: a soft tissue mass.

Four-year-old Amelia had Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer.

Found only in children, Neuroblastoma arises in the adrenal glands, located in the abdominal area near the kidneys, and along the sympathetic nerve chain in the chest and abdomen.

Neuroblastoma spreads quickly, and often is discovered only after the disease is widespread.

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, everything changes; the way your child feels, family priorities, how time is spent, and how the future is imagined. One thing you can be certain of is the world-class care your child receives when treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Within 5 days of the diagnosis, Amelia had surgery at Nationwide Children’s to remove the tumor that was resting on her spine and aorta. With less than a 5% chance that the tumor would return, there was no chemotherapy used.

Six-months-later, in June 2015, Amelia and her parents came back to Nationwide Children’s for a routine MRI. Not only was the tumor growing back, but the cancer had spread to Amelia’s spinal column, skull, pelvis and shoulder. Her parents had to tell their little girl that day that she wasn’t going home like they had promised.

Demonstrating that good things come in small packages – Amelia, and her strong, passionate self, fought hard through 5 rounds of different chemotherapies, a bone marrow transplant, 12 rounds of radiation, 6 months of immunotherapy, a stem cell harvest, 2 surgeries and multiple other hospital admissions.

“Amelia has always been a very selfless and caring little girl. She definitely worries more about others than herself and shows her love for those around her on a daily basis. During our inpatient stays, she would always visit her ‘friends’ on the 12th floor and frequently brought gifts for the other patients when we were there. When we aren’t there, she is always planning for trips to bring toys to the children that are beginning or are still on this difficult journey,” says Christina, Amelia’s mother.

Amelia was recently told she’s in remission for the first time in 2 ½ years.

A champion and a warrior, Amelia can’t wait to cheer and support all of the participants of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon and her spread her message to “Never give up,” and “No one fights alone!”