Life Update / Scan Results: 30 Months

Over the past few weeks, Caroline has recieved numerous post-treatement tests/scans/appointments, which concluded yesterday.  As always, we prayed hard for No Evidence of Disease (NED)...and we are beyond thrilled to be able to share that Caroline continues to be cancer-free since April 2019, 2.5 years after completing her standard treatment protocol for Stage IV, High-Risk Neuroblastoma and six months after completing her DFMO Clinical Trial!

Test Results: 
VMA/HVA urine test - NED
CT Scan - NED
X-Ray - No abnormalities
Labs/Blood Markers - All in good range, but she needs an iron supplement
MRI for Spinal Compression Fractures - No change
MIBG Scan - NED

We want to thank her amazing team of caretakers at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation for her DFMO clinical trial, and the army of prayer warriors around the world who have supported us for (almost) 4 years.

Caroline is currently thriving in 2nd grade, playing soccer, hanging out with friends, and excels in her main sibiling duty of annoying her brother.  We are so grateful she has been able to enjoy being a “normal” kid in 2021.

September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Caroline was able to support and create awareness through a variety of events:

~Formulated a "carolinestrong" candle scent in collaboration with In Love There’s Light as a Fundraiser for Beat Childhood Cancer 

~Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network during the "Ride of a Life Time" at Lifetime Fitness (shoutout to Ms. Hilary and her spin class!)
~Actor in a Love Your Melon and BeatCC awareness campaign video (click here to watch if you have Facebook)

Pediatric cancer is severly underfunded, recieving only 4% of all government funding for cancer-related research, so we are always honored to be asked and happy to participate in doing our part to shine a spotlight on this dreadful disease in hopes of advancing research.

All the best,
The Lantz Family

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

1 Year Ago Today

One year ago today, Mark joined Caroline at the Academy of McKay's Mill for a Thanksgiving celebration lunch.  She was in a great mood - sharing in the excitement and running around with all of her school friends!  Just 2 short hours after the picture below was taken, we received a call from the school that Caroline was screaming in pain and inconsolable.  He immediately went back to the school, picked her up, and took her to the local Urgent Care...what happened over the course of the next 3 days changed our lives forever.

The anticipation of this week, and the one year mark, has been gravely hanging over our heads for a little while. Today is a very difficult day for us emotionally, but we love this kid as much as anyone can love anyone or anything, and we just wanted to share with everyone that we are so thankful, and blessed that she was given to us.  WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF HER for her amazing, fighting spirit!  We love you, Caroline.

Such Proud Parents,
Mark and Margaret
#carolinestrong
#ftgf

Tuesday before Thanksgiving...2017 and 2018.