A.J., 16, courageously battles mind most cancers – CHOC

When he was 9 years previous, Anthony “A.J.” De La Torre’s jiu jitsu teacher gave him a nickname: The Silent Murderer. 

That alter ego additionally applies to how A.J., now 16, has spent the final seven years battling a foe he can’t see that’s attempting to destroy him from the within: recurrent medulloblastoma, a cancerous mind tumor that’s uncommon however is the commonest type of mind tumor in kids. 

A quiet fighter, A.J. retains defying the chances regardless of two relapses and sicknesses that required him to twice go on hemodialysis and spend 5 weeks in CHOC’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with respiratory and different points that at sure factors grew to become very grave. 

A.J.’s giant workforce of champions consists of Dr. Vanessa Wong, a pediatric vital care doctor who admitted him to the PICU early this yr after he was rushed to the Julia & George Argyros Emergency Division following a seizure and struggling one other seizure within the ED. 

“Dr. Wong’s dedication and compassion in the direction of A.J. and our household will endlessly be etched in our hearts,” says A.J.’s mom, Carolina Valls. 

Again a second time 

Following that first evening within the PICU, A.J. was safely extubated and transferred out of the unit.

However issues took a flip for the more serious and A.J. was re-intubated three days later after going into respiratory failure due to parainfluenza and was again within the PICU, starting his 2 ½-month keep there beneath the care of a number of physicians.

“Even when Dr. Wong wasn’t assigned as his physician, she checked in a number of instances to see how he was doing,” Carolina recollects.

The mind most cancers afflicting A.J. began within the decrease again a part of the mind (the cerebellum) that’s concerned in muscle coordination, steadiness and motion. Medulloblastoma tends to unfold by way of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the mind and spinal wire.

A.J. was in fourth grade when he began mysteriously vomiting. 

Medical doctors at one other pediatric hospital recognized him with the most cancers in December 2017, eight days earlier than his 10^th birthday. Later, they eliminated 95% of a tennis-ball-sized tumor (the opposite 5% had infiltrated his brainstem). 

Regardless of intensive chemotherapy and radiation remedy, A.J. relapsed in Might 2020 and a second time in April 2022.

After the primary relapse, A.J. underwent a stem cell transplant and after the second relapse, he underwent further chemotherapy with proton radiation.

He additionally has had three craniotomies to resect his mind tumors.

Kidney points 

A.J. got here into the care of CHOC’s ED in early 2024. Nonetheless, he was at CHOC practically a yr earlier than his prolonged keep within the PICU as a  hemodialysis affected person. 

Medical doctors at A.J.’s earlier hospital didn’t assume he ever could be off dialysis. However CHOC’s nephrology workforce was in a position to obtain that in late March 2023. 

Ann Fulcher, A.J.’s dialysis nurse coordinator, modified A.J.’s central line dressings each week and “would go above and past,” Carolina says. 

Recollects Ann: “I used to be so comfortable when he went off dialysis. I noticed all that his household needed to undergo. It’s been very robust on them. I’ve excessive respect for them, and A.J. has been so robust combating this battle.” 

A uncommon affected person 

When A.J. got here to CHOC’s ED in January 2024, he additionally wanted assist with oxygen. Pulmonologists, together with Dr. Neil Nakra, medical director of pediatricpulmonology, started treating him. 

So did Dr. Antonio Arrieta, medical director of the pediatric infectious illness workforce.  

After his discharge from the PICU, A.J. moved to the oncology unit. He lastly was in a position to go house in late March. 

Dr. Wong says it’s uncommon to see a baby with such excessive illness acuity admitted to the PICU and seen throughout discharge. 

“A.J. is a affected person that I’ll keep in mind endlessly,” says Dr. Wong. “Though I solely cared for him for a short while, his resiliency and positivity are one thing that stood out me.”

When Dr. Wong first met A.J., she thought he was going to be out and in of the hospital rapidly.

“When he sadly ended up again within the PICU a lot sicker I used to be fearful that he may not make it out of the hospital,” Dr. Wong recollects. “However, as I realized rapidly, A.J. is a quiet fighter and filled with dedication. To see him by way of his journey within the PICU to the oncology flooring and to lastly see him on the day he was discharged house was actually outstanding.”

A.J. loves to attract. As a present to Dr. Wong on his discharge, he gave her a present: 

A hand-drawn and coloured image of Choco, CHOC’s beloved mascot. 

The inscription reads: 

Thanks for caring for me. 

Dr. Wong proudly shows it in her house.

Making the very best of issues 

Throughout an MRI on the finish of August 2024, CHOC docs detected a development of A.J.’s most cancers in his mind and backbone. 

Consequently, he restarted chemotherapy.  

By mid-October, MRI outcomes confirmed that general, every thing regarded secure. And by late that month, A.J. was nonetheless off dialysis. 

He continues to require oxygen 24/7 though there was enchancment in his respiratory standing, Carolina says. 

“It’s daily, however he makes it simpler on us,” says A.J.’s father, Richard De La Torre. “He’s all the time been a relaxed, chill child. And he doesn’t complain rather a lot. We additionally lean on God. 

“We’ve endured, he’s endured, so we make the very best of our day by day lives. The negativity can put on you down when you let it. 

“In all our hospital stays, we’ve by no means felt nearer or extra taken care of than throughout his PICU keep, and the dialysis nurses by no means allow us to down. Regardless of being remarkably busy, they all the time stayed up to the mark.” 

A miracle teen 

Members of A.J.’s care workforce proceed to view him as a miracle. 

“He has defeated each prognosis he has ever been given,” Carolina says. 

She praises CHOC docs, nurses, and different care workforce members who work tirelessly to heal, consolation, and uplift different sufferers and households. 

“Thanks for being the on a regular basis heroes that make a distinction within the lives of so many,” Carolina says. 

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Study extra concerning the Hyundai Most cancers Heart at CHOC

CHOC Hospital was named one of many nation’s finest kids’s hospitals by U.S. Information & World Report in its 2024-25 Finest Kids’s Hospitals rankings and ranked within the most cancers specialty.