According to a story from CBS News, Hazel Hammersley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age two. As a result, she was forced to fight for her life at a very young age. She received chemotherapy and radiation therapy in order to fight her cancer. Hazel also had surgery as part of her treatment as well.
Neuroblastoma is one of the more common cancer types to affect children and forms in nerve tissues. The adrenal glands are a common origin site, but it can also form on the neck, spine, chest, or abdomen. The cause of neuroblastoma is unclear, though in rare cases a genetic mutation may be responsible. Neuroblastoma can range from a low-risk to high-risk, depending on how much cancer is present. In high-risk cases, survival rate is quite low and the cancer commonly relapses or is otherwise unresponsive to extensive treatment. People who survive high-risk cases are often more vulnerable to later health complications due to the side effects of treatment. To learn more about neuroblastoma, click here.
Now six years old, Hazel managed to survive her bout with neuroblastoma and a scan five months ago revealed that she was cancer free. In the meantime, her mother Lauren, linked up with Susan Heard. Heard’s son David was also diagnosed with neuroblastoma. The shared experience of having children with cancer brought the to women together, and now they are working to raise funds for childhood cancer research. David was unable to get rid of his neuroblastoma, and passed away at ten years old.
Susan says that her son’s dying wish was that she would help contribute to childhood cancer research.
Unfortunately for Hazel, a recent analysis back in October revealed that her neuroblastoma was beginning to relapse. This is the third time that the cancer has returned. Hazel is currently a clinical trials patient, taking an experimental drug that has shown potential in previous studies. Lauren, Susan, and Hazel have all helped raise money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. This organization is the more prominent private funder of research for cancer in children in the US. St. Baldrick’s has contributed around $232 million in grants for research.
Meanwhile, Hazel’s life continues to hang in the balance. Their commitment to raising money for research could be what it takes to save her life.
