Lodi 2-year-old battling against liver cancer after Thanksgiving diagnosis
It all began when 2-year-old Anastasia Leach of Lodi started experiencing flu-like symptoms last November. She had no energy and wasn’t eating, and an old ear infection seemed to have returned. Her mother, Rosa Leach, took her to the doctor who confirmed that it was an ear infection.
The doctor prescribed antibiotics and directed Rosa to keep Anastasia hydrated.
Rosa knew something was wrong when Anastasia did not improve.
“Within a couple of days, typically she would’ve started feeling better, but she wasn’t. She actually seemed to be getting worse in my opinion,” Rosa said. “She was sleeping a lot. She had no energy. She wasn’t playing.”
During that time, Anastasia’s parents began to notice a lump in her belly.
“I touched it and it would go down. She wouldn’t cry. She didn’t appear to be in pain when I touched it, and I thought to myself that maybe it was a hernia because I had also had a hernia,” Rosa said.
Anastasia was taken back to the doctor and it was recommended that she have an ultrasound, but an appointment wasn’t available until December.
Rosa knew in her gut that it was more than just an ear ache, so her husband Nick took Anastasia back to the doctor three days later and insisted that the lump on Anastasia’s belly needed to be checked immediately. The two were sent to Lodi Memorial Hospital where Anastasia was given an ultrasound and doctors discovered a mass on her liver.
“They never said the word ‘cancer,’ but what they did do was immediately send him and Anastasia to Sutter Children’s Hospital in Sacramento,” Rosa said.
It was Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, and Rosa, who worked in Sacramento, met her husband and daughter at the hospital.
“That’s when they started using words like ‘cancer,’” Rosa said.
Doctors informed the family that one of the markers for hepatoblastoma is high alpha-fetoprotein blood count and drew blood from Anastasia. Rosa said that’s when it really started to sink in that Anastasia had some form of cancer.
After examining the blood and giving Anastasia a CAT scan, the doctor informed Nick and Rosa that the alpha-fetoprotein count was high. The mass on her liver was most likely hepatoblastoma, also known as liver cancer.
“My first thought when they sent us up to Sutter in Sacramento was that she was going to have to have surgery, but never did it pop in my mind that it was going to be cancer,” Rosa said.
Anastasia and remained in the hospital throughout the Thanksgiving holiday, and a biopsy was performed that following Monday. A few days later her parents received confirmation that Anastasia had Stage 4 hepatoblastoma, which had spread to her lungs.
“I was in disbelief and shock. When you hear the word cancer, it’s very scary. I myself know very few people with cancer . ... You think. ‘Well, what did I do to cause this? How did this happen?’ It’s just shocking.”
Rosa said she had to break the news to her family, who were shocked and devastated. The past couple of months have been a very trying time for her and her family, she said.
“It’s been emotionally draining. She was in the hospital from Nov. 23 through Christmas Eve. That’s due to her having the biopsy and having to recover from that surgery, and they also placed a catheter in her body,” Rosa said.
Rosa said the catheter is like a permanent IV that doctors will use to draw blood and administer chemotherapy and other medicines she may need.
Within four days of the biopsy, Anastasia began her chemotherapy. She experienced bloating from the surgery and doctors had to get her walking around to release some of the gases from her body. She was also having very high fevers, some reaching up to 104 degrees. Anastasia was given Tylenol for her fever along with several narcotic pain medications, including fentanyl and Torodal.
“(These medications) are very scary for an adult to take, let alone a 2year-old, but they gave her some relief for her pain,” Rosa said.
Anastasia was very weak and was not eating or drinking. She needed an IV to ensure she was getting the necessary nutrients in her body.
“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” Rosa said. “When she was really at her lowest with the chemotherapy and still trying to recover from the biopsy, we just took it one day at a time. Of course we have family members that are just praying for her. I’m praying for her. We’re all praying that she has a good recovery from this cancer.”
The experience has made Anastasia leery and scared of the doctors when they walk in the room. In the beginning, she would cry and would not want them to touch her. As time has gone on, Rosa said, Anastasia has gotten used to some of the doctors but remains a little traumatized.
“It’s been somewhat traumatic for her because she’s having all these things done to her, and she’s only 2 so she can’t really explain to us what it is that she’s feeling,” Rosa said. “She doesn’t talk as much as she used to. She’s not playing with any of her toys. Sometimes what she does to deal with how she’s feeling is she’ll put the blanket over her head and start humming or talking to herself or singing to herself. I think that’s the way she’s coping with the stress.’’
Anastasia’s twin brother Dylan hasn’t really grasped the reality of the situation, Rosa said. When she was away in the hospital, he would come to her room looking for her. He visited her a few times and after greeting his twin and giving her a kiss, he ended up playing with the toys and watching movies.
“He just sees the hospital as a fun place to go,” Rosa said.
Going forward, Anastasia will receive chemotherapy treatment a few days at a time, returning home between treatments
Rosa is glad that Anastasia will be able to come home, because being in the hospital was really difficult for her and was starting to break her spirit.
“We’re in the hospital and we had to walk her around and she’s looking down at the ground. She doesn’t want to look at anybody. She doesn’t want to talk to anybody and it’s so heartbreaking to see that in a 2-year-old who loves people,” Rosa said. “When she comes home, she’s smiling. She’s not running and playing around, but she is playing with a few different toys. She is just more at ease when she’s at home.”
Doctors say Anastasia’s prognosis should be good, but is dependent on how her body works with the chemotherapy. She will have several treatments before being evaluated to determine if the tumor can be removed. If it can’t be removed yet, she will undergo more treatment and the surgery will be performed at a later date.
If the chemotherapy is not successful and surgery is not an option, Anastasia may need a liver transplant.
In addition to dealing with the devastating diagnosis, Nick and Rosa are faced with at least $10,000 in medical expenses. In addition to these expenses, they have three kids to raise and monthly bills.
“It’s a tremendously overwhelming amount when you think about her treatment,” Rosa said. “We have these bills that are starting to come in and you get a bill from each doctor — not just the hospital, but each doctor individually bills,” Rosa said. “I don’t know how else we’re going to pay those other than hope that when we are able start paying, they will accept some sort of payment plan.”
Nick’s brother Travis Leach has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Anastasia’s medical expenses. Those interested in donating can visit www.gofundme.com/anastacias-medical-fund.
Rosa’s sister Kristine Cantrell is also holding a fundraiser at Rick’s Pizza on Jan. 11 and is trying to put on together at her gym to help with the expenses as well.