Desi to leave for more cancer treatment in New York, the latest on her journey
Desi Cechin is a year and a half into her battle with cancer. Her family has watched the precious girl fight to survive and try to beat neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of the disease.
“She’s been through enough. It’s hard to watch,” said her father Terry Cechin. “She said ‘I’m fighting for my life.'”
The six year old’s fight isn’t over and she won’t give up. We last told you Desi completed an intensive so-called “kitchen sink” round of chemotherapy at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in August.
“It went well. There were the normal complications that come with a high dose of chemo. She was neutropenic, which means she really didn’t have an immune system so she had to be in isolation in the hospital,” said her father.
In September she underwent a low dose of outpatient treatment. Terry Cechin said after a dozen rounds of chemo and liquid radiation during her battle with the disease, cancer’s taking its toll on his princess and her attachment to her mother Laura.
“She’s become extremely co-dependent, she’s over reliant on (Laura),” said Terry Cechin.
Desi’s seeing a therapist to help with her emotions.
“We remind her, that isn’t her fault that she’s feels like that. Cancer did this,” her father said.
In the meantime, Desi’s also completing first grade from home and hospital. She’s losing teeth like any other 6-year-old. She’s also preparing to re-enter battle in New York where she’ll receive new scans and more treatment with help from her mom.
“They’re going to use Laura’s white blood cells to kill the cancer. It’s pretty exciting. It’s called an N-K trial. We feel good about this treatment.”
The ultimate goal is for Desi to be in remission.
“She believes in herself and that helps us as parents because she makes our job easier. That smile you see, she motivates us.”
Desi will leave for New York in mid-October and she’s expected to be there for at least a couple of weeks.
Stay with News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2 as we continue to follow the latest on Desi’s journey and also follow the Believing For Desi Facebook page.
