Brynn W., age 8, has always been a healthy kid who loves to play soccer. Her parents, Jen and Jeremy, became concerned when after Brynn’s 7th birthday party she developed shortness of breath. Later that night, when Brynn woke with shallow, rapid breathing, they were worried and took her to the hospital. After a CAT scan, a massive tumor was discovered on the right side of Brynn’s chest and she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a cancer of the bones, cartilage, and soft tissue around the bones. In retrospect, her parents remembered that Brynn hadn’t had enough breath to blow out birthday candles on two other occasions that week. Brynn stayed in intensive care on oxygen for 20 days and within a week of being admitted to ICU she began the first of 14 rounds of chemotherapy, which meant 80 nights in the hospital over a period of nine months.
Due to her compromised immune system, Brynn had to drop out of school and was unable to spend time with her friends. However, Brynn felt well and her mother looked for fun opportunities for her. Jen had previously been a lesson treatment assistant at The Shea Center for 3 ½ years. After an evaluation at The Shea Center by Chief Program Officer, Janelle Robinson, PT, Brynn began physical therapy utilizing the horse as a part of an integrated treatment program.
After nine rounds of chemo, the tumor had shrunk, and surgery was performed. The tumor was attached to her heart and diaphragm and she lost two thirds of three ribs and 20% of her right lung. She went home five days after surgery, but still had five rounds of chemo to go and then six weeks of daily proton radiation therapy in San Diego. To help detox her body, Brynn’s parents kept her involved in alternative therapies such as Chinese, homeopathic, and chiropractic treatments during her recovery. Remarkably, just ten days post surgery, Brynn was able to resume physical therapy utilizing the horse’s movement as a primary treatment strategy.
Brynn went through a lot in ten months, but is now in remission. Horseback riding has built her confidence; she rides independently and is proud of her accomplishments.
Brynn is now back in school and out on the soccer field again. In October, her follow-up scans were clear. She will continue to have scans every three months for the next two years and then additional scans spread out over her lifetime.
Jen remarks, “Brynn has such a positive, fighting spirit. She had such a good attitude during her treatments and never complained. It was amazing to see. She was strong, determined, and unstoppable.
