Sydnie Larson

Sydnie is 3 years old and has recently been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called rhadbomyosarcoma.

"Rhabdomyosarcoma tumors arise from a cell called a "rhabdomyoblast", which is a primitive muscle cell. Instead of differentiating into striated muscle cells, the rhabdomyoblasts grow out of control. Since this type of muscle is located throughout the body, the tumors can appear at numerous locations. The four major sites in which rhabdomyosarcoma is found are:
*head and neck; around the eyes -- 35-40%
*genitourinary tract -- 20%
*extremities -- 15-20%
*trunk (chest and lungs) -- 10-15%...

Treatment
Rhabdomyosarcoma is treated by a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
*Surgery. Resection (removal) of the primary tumor. If necessary after chemotherapy or radiation has shrunk the tumor.
*Chemotherapy. The following chemotherapy agents are commonly used: vincristine, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin, adriamycin, ifosfamide, VP-16.
*Radiation. External beam radiation is used in some cases of rhabdomyosarcoma...

Statistics
*Accounts for 5-8% of childhood cancers.
*70% of all rhabdomyosarcoma cases diagnosed in the first ten years of life.
*Usually affects children the ages of 2 to 6 and 15 to 19.
*The peak incidence in 1-5 age group.
*Overall, 50% of the children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma survive 5 years"
- http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/rhabdo.html

Sydnie's family has set up a donation account to help pay for the tremendous medical bills that her treament is going to bring.

Checks of any amount can be made out to:
Larson Family Donation Accout

And mailed to
Larson Family Donation Account
c/o US Bank
5434 S. 76th St.
Greendale, WI 53129

Sydnie is a very special little girl who has been through a lot in her short 3 years of life. Her family and friends are doing all they can to support her.
Sydnie's father works at a hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with my mom, and this weekend the employees of the hospital are helping to raise money by having a book sale (to which Drew and Louisa happily gave many books) and rummage sale. They also had a bake sale a few weeks ago.
If you do not feel you can help at this time, maybe you know someone who can. Please send them my blog address, or the donation account information. If we keep the information moving from person to person, we'll get more people to understand and help.
I don't usually like to ask people for money, however, it's not for me, it's for a sweet little girl named Sydnie who is dying of cancer.

Thank you all in advance!

**UPDATE**

Sydnie Marie Larson
July 13, 2002 - Oct. 8, 2007

Sydnie Marie Larson, 5, was granted her angel wings Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, following a courageous battle with cancer. The final days of Sydnie's short, yet memorable life were spent at home surrounded by family and friends.
Although Sydnie's illness affected her physically, she possessed the strength, perseverance and ability to overcome incredible odds and physical challenges. With her courage, she taught us to believe that each day is a blessing and an opportunity to create lasting memories.
With Sydnie's passing, we remind others that her life is one to be celebrated. Although we will miss her every day, especially her beautiful smile and hearing the many "I love you's" she shared with us, she will forever remain in our hearts.
Sydnie is survived by her loving parents, Jody and Melissa Larson of Lake Geneva; brothers, Jacob and Jordan; sister, Heather; maternal grandparents, Terry and Sharon Parmelee of Clearwater, Fla., and Joel Larson of Lauderhill, Fla.; maternal great-grandparents, Lawrence and Shirley Parmelee of Brookfield; paternal great-great-grandma, MaryAnn Gajewski, Marathon; and many other relatives and friends. Sydnie was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Cindy Lynn Burns; her Nana Carol Bradley; and her paternal grandmother, Jan Gajewski.
~source