Brystal - Emmonak

Brystal is a strong and determined 10-year-old with a heart of gold! She loves playing with her nieces and nephews, all 7 of them whom she takes pride and joy.  She engages in activities like crocheting, beading, drawing, playing cards and especially loves the sport of basketball. 

Brystal was diagnosed with an Undifferentiated High-Grade Sarcoma of the Left Distal Femur in March of 2023.  After practicing and playing basketball, she developed a limp in her left leg.  She was brought to the local clinic for a check up and x-ray.  The provider at the time, called me back to the clinic to tell me that her case was being referred to ANMC for further evaluation.  We left the village of Emmonak 2 days later to make our appointments in Anchorage, Alaska.  After going through MRI, more x-rays, pet scans, and blood draws, I was consulted and informed that her tests were positive for cancer and that her case would be referred to Specialists at Seattle Children’s Hospital.  We went back home to Emmonak to await travel and further appointments. 

After about a month of waiting, Brystal and I traveled to Seattle.    This was the longest month in my whole life, time couldn’t pass fast enough.  A day after getting to Seattle Children’s Hospital, she went through further MRI’s, Pet Scans, Cat Scans, x-rays, blood draws, which all came to the confirmation of a Malignant Bone Tumor.  After consulting with the doctors, her treatment plan was made.  Chemotherapy was started with Cisplatin and Doxorubicin, next would be Methotrexate, several rounds of this chemotherapy and then the surgery to remove the affected bone and tissue of the sarcoma.  This schedule was interrupted early on, as she went through high level of methotrexate toxicity that took the entire month of May to get through.  To make use of the timeframe and to allow her body to re cooperate from that, chemotherapy was put on hold and her intense surgery was moved up a month.  She had her left leg amputated above her knee where the tumor was and has done well since the surgery with physical therapy and recovery.  Today, we have resumed the chemotherapy regime and are still pushing forward to become cancer free.  She is paving her way to beat this as she is very strong in her faith, saying prayers, sending blessings and asking for strength continuously.  She has pulled strength from within and continues to amaze us all every day.

Thank you for the gift of relief and support, tears of happiness and gratitude fell as a smile etched in our hearts, where Katie’s Handprint will always have a special place.  We hope to inform you later on as treatment progresses and comes to an end successfully.