Happy Easter and Caroline is Officially 1-Year Cancer-FREE!!!

Although Caroline had her 12-month scans in early March, today (April 12th) marks the actual ONE YEAR Anniversary of No Evidence of Disease from her Stage IV, High-Risk Neuroblastoma diagnosis in 2017.  She is feeling great, and we've all been able to breathe a little bit more over the past 12 months.  Caroline is still taking DFMO, the clinical trial drug that reduces the chance of relapse in this type of cancer. That trial will end for her in April 2021.  We are very encouraged with both our results, and others that we follow on the study.  Thank you to beatnb.org for all the amazing work and support!

Thank you to everyone that has supported our family through this journey: our Franklin community, our amazing group of friends and neighbors, the Vandy staff and care team, local churches, our generous family, and all of the kind-hearted strangers (new friends!) from literally all over the world.  We could not have made it through this without all your prayers and assistance!

While we are beyond happy about Caroline's outcome and progress to date, we constantly think about the families that are still battling cancer every day, those that are just getting diagnosed today (especially during this dangerous time for immune systems and hospitals), and those that have lost a child to this awful disease.  Pediatric cancer is a scary, lonely and humbling experience for anyone that is touched by it, but we are doing our best to turn those thoughts and nightmares into action and progress towards advancing therapies and cures.  We have been actively trying to bring awareness and support to many of the organizations and professions that helped us, and many others, with cancer research and family support.

In March, Mark was invited to speak to 3 classes of Pharmacology students from one of the best Pharmacy schools in the country, Lipscomb University.  It was a great opportunity for us to share the Pediatric Oncology journey from a patient advocate's perspective, which is one part of the treatment protocol that cannot be taught in an academic textbook.  The students were very attentive and engaging; we appreciate that there is such a young and brilliant generation of future pharmacists entering the medical profession!

Additionally, over the last 12 months, Caroline and our family have participated in many fundraising and/or awareness efforts: for The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee,  The Nashville Predators Foundation, Children's Miracle Network, Cooper Trooper Foundation, Angel Heart Farms, Love Your Melon, Brett's Barn, and BeatNb.  We are so grateful for every one of these wonderful organizations, and the incredible work they do for sick children and their families! **We've linked all their sites for more information and giving opportunities.

Many thanks for the love and support...and Happy Easter to all!
The Lantz Family

Easter through the years...2014-2020

Mark speaking to Lipscomb Pharmocology Students

April 12, 2019: No Evidence of Disease!

Results: One-Year Scans

Caroline had her 1-year scans this week, and the CT Scan, MIBG Scan and lab markers all show NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!!!  To say we are beyond thankful is an understatement!  She will continue to take her DFMO clinical trial drug (to hopefully prevent relapse) for the next 13 months, and will be re-scanned in 6 months.  With the flu season and COVID-19, we're hoping she can remain healthy through the season.

We're so grateful to her medical team that helped get us here, and who continue to work hard every day for these families!  Also a huge shout to all the folks at BeatNb who are fighting so hard for these kids to be able to get access to DFMO, which shows amazing promise in battling this awful disease.

Be safe out there!
The Lantz Family

Caroline being injected with MIBG radioactive contrast.

We Love Vandy!

Audiology test - she is showing signs of mild hearing loss, so we will re-check in 3 months.

 Waiting...

CT Scan 

 #carolinestrong

 Peace out! Walking herself back to the MIBG Scan.

 Fresh, 3-month supply of DFMO.

TWO YEARS since diagnosis - where are we now?

It’s hard to believe we’ve hit the two year “cancer-versary” of Caroline’s diagnosis: November 24, 2017. We feel so many things, but mostly just grateful. Her original diagnosis was on Black Friday, and last year we were inpatient for Thanksgiving AND her one year mark...we are continuously reminded of how much we have to be thankful for, regardless of the holiday, or what the future holds.

The biggest blessing is that Caroline is alive and still has NO evidence of disease! She is on a clinical trial drug to (hopefully!) prevent relapse, and so far, so GREAT! She takes 6 pills a day, but relative to what she’s been through, it’s nothing. She is thriving in Kindergarten, was able to play soccer this Fall, and is enjoying being a Daisy Scout. She loves hanging out with her friends and having the freedom to do things that involve germs! She still loves singing, dancing, talking to everyone she meets, all things American Girl Dolls, and of course, her BFF dog, Hank.

Andrew has had his own version of challenges during this process, but he is resilient, strong, and protective of his little sister. He seems to have bounced back and is in full-on tween mode (fun times). He's loving all the new-found freedom Middle School has to offer, and is still football’s #1 fan!

As for Mark and Margaret...we’ve been trying to find or new “normal” over the past 6 months. Margaret went back to work full-time in September, and Mark has been steadfast in keeping our family together and supported; he's been our rock. PTSD is real, and it’s something that weaves in and out of our house regularly. We process and cope differently, but try to take each day, hour, minute as it comes, and practice patience.

As a family, we’ve slowly been able to show up for the community that carried us through, and it feels so good to be able to pay it forward and care for others. We’ve also been able to champion some causes that we so strongly believe in: BeatNB.org, Make-A-Wish, Children’s Miracle Network, and of course, the Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt!

We will continue to use the blog to update as Caroline gets required scans throughout the rest of her clinical trail (approximately 18 more months). Thank you for pouring your love, support and prayers into our family…you have sustained us through the past 2 years.

Looking forward to the new year and new decade!

All the best to you and yours,
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

6-Month Scan Results

Caroline just completed 3 days of testing, which concluded today with a CT Scan and an MIBG Scan.  The results show that she still has NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE at the 6-month mark.  She will continue to take her 6 daily pills of the DFMO clinical trail, and then return for a 3-month check-up towards the end of the year.

Thank you for your steadfast support and prayers through this long, long journey!

The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong

#ftgf

A special video message from Caroline!

BeatNb, Dr. Sholler & DFMO Lab Visit

Our family had the honor and privilege of spending a very rewarding day with the BeatNb.org team yesterday at their main research laboratory in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  To put it in context, the BeatNb organization is the national leader in the research and trials behind the DFMO drug that Caroline takes daily to hopefully prevent her cancer from relapsing.  DFMO attacks the root of the Neuroblastoma cells, so they don't ever have a chance the turn into harmful and deadly cancer cells.  DFMO has shown significant improvement in survival rates of patients that are on the trial and have no evidence of active disease as noted in this link: beatnb.org/dfmopaper.

Lead researcher for the DFMO trial, Dr. Giselle Sholler, and her team members, took us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the DFMO Lab, as well as The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Oncology outpatient and inpatient clinics. We were joined by the entire BeatNb team (Pat, Kyle, Robyn, Charlie, AJ, Savannah and Yvette), as well as fellow advocates and partners (the creators of "Love Your Melon" were there!).  All convening from various parts of the country, we remained together all day and ended with great testimonials and conversations over dinner!  Seeing the research lab first-hand, and witnessing how the teams are diligently testing cancer treatments...trying to find a CURE for these amazing kids that are battling this horrible disease, was an educational and truly moving experience. 

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing friends Katie R., Ellen P., and Steve R., for each pointing us in Dr. Sholler's direction, back in November 2017, at the start of this journey.  Our goal from Caroline's  initial diagnosis week was to get to clear scans and successfully enroll in the DFMO clinical trial at the end of standard treatment.  She did it!  We met that goal, and we will do everything we can to advocate and support others who can benefit from this promising drug.

Feeling Blessed!

The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf
#wewillbeatnb

Caroline looking at active Neuroblastoma cells!

Thumbs up for trying to cure cancer!

Each vial contains the donated cells of individual Neuroblastoma patients.

Caroline and Dr. Sholler!

Caroline Turns Six!

We had a great weekend celebrating Caroline, who turned 6 years old today!  She was able to hangout with her grandparents and aunt, celebrate with some school friends at the Lifetime gym, eat sushi for the first time in a year, and enjoy cheesecake and lots of whipped cream!  She also got to FaceTime with Maryland family members, and had a bunch of surprise visitors drop by with birthday wishes and treats - we are grateful for each and every one!  Such a happy day!

Love,
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong

#ftgf

Caroline's Make-A-Wish!

We just returned from Caroline’s Make-A-Wish trip to the Cayman Islands! She originally picked a trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but because of the timing of her treatment last November, she picked an alternate...riding ponies on the beach...and much, much more!

The Cayman Islands were gorgeous, and we’re so thankful Caroline is healthy enough to travel and truly enjoy the water, as well as everything the Island had to offer. We will let the pictures do the talking, but two very special shout-outs to those that made this all happen:

~Franklin Girls Cotillion: they raised the funds to sponsor the trip! What an amazing organization led by very kind and generous young ladies; we hope Caroline grows up with the same servant heart.

~Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee: They really do make wishes come true! Everything went off without a hitch!

Thankful for so many things, but especially time together relaxing as a family!
Team Lantz
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

Living her best life!

One the way to the Grand Cayman Islands - so excited!

Snorkeling in the crystal clear water

Cayman Turtle Center

Sunset

Girls' Pool Day

Horseback riding along the ocean

Stingray City

The kids discovered (virgin) Pina Coladas while we were there... 

Oceanfront dinner on the last night

Jet-skiing with Daddy

Stand-Up Paddle Boards

Starfish Alley

Thank you Make-A-Wish and the Franklin Girls' Cotillion for an amazing vacation!