Helping Leilanie Feel “Normal” Again
Leilanie is a creative kid who loves making and editing videos, decorating gingerbread with colorful candies and making finger puppets. But one morning when she was 8, she woke up very swollen. Her parents thought she might be allergic to the dog. “It turned out she had a big tumor on top of her heart,” her mom, Lesli, says.
Treatment for Leilanie’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma started right away in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s National Hospital. She initially stayed for three weeks. Certified Child Life Specialists helped explain the diagnosis to Leilanie. It was especially hard since her beloved grandmother had passed away from cancer. "I cried so much because I didn't think that I would live, or if I did, I didn’t think I’d ever be normal again,” Leilanie says.
Oncology treatment over two years has included intensive chemotherapy, proton-beam radiation therapy, mental health support from a psychologist. It has also included extensive support from Child Life & Integrative Services such as care from Certified Child Life Specialists as well as art, music and pet therapies. Physical therapy for six months helped her regain strength and balance when she became frail, prone to falling and unable to climb stairs during her treatment.
“There’s a lot that kids with cancer go through, including a lot of trauma,” says Lesli. “That includes their siblings, too. Lelanie’s team at the hospital has helped us get through every obstacle, from the difficulties of chemo to social regression, loss of balance, hand tremors – there were so many things.”
Now that her tumor is gone, Leilanie visits the hospital once a month for lumbar punctures, or spinal taps, and takes daily oral chemotherapy. Recovery has been difficult, but Lelanie is back to many of her favorite activities, such as playing outside, scootering and having sleepovers with her cousins. She even rode her first roller coaster.
“Going through an experience like this flips your entire family’s life upside down,” Lesli says. “It is a huge shock, and impacts a family emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially. If it wasn’t for the extremely dedicated, passionate and smart doctors, nurses and staff at Children’s National, Leilanie might not be here. Best of all – she feels like a normal kid again.”
Treatment for Leilanie’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma started right away in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s National Hospital. She initially stayed for three weeks. Certified Child Life Specialists helped explain the diagnosis to Leilanie. It was especially hard since her beloved grandmother had passed away from cancer. "I cried so much because I didn't think that I would live, or if I did, I didn’t think I’d ever be normal again,” Leilanie says.
Oncology treatment over two years has included intensive chemotherapy, proton-beam radiation therapy, mental health support from a psychologist. It has also included extensive support from Child Life & Integrative Services such as care from Certified Child Life Specialists as well as art, music and pet therapies. Physical therapy for six months helped her regain strength and balance when she became frail, prone to falling and unable to climb stairs during her treatment.
“There’s a lot that kids with cancer go through, including a lot of trauma,” says Lesli. “That includes their siblings, too. Lelanie’s team at the hospital has helped us get through every obstacle, from the difficulties of chemo to social regression, loss of balance, hand tremors – there were so many things.”
Now that her tumor is gone, Leilanie visits the hospital once a month for lumbar punctures, or spinal taps, and takes daily oral chemotherapy. Recovery has been difficult, but Lelanie is back to many of her favorite activities, such as playing outside, scootering and having sleepovers with her cousins. She even rode her first roller coaster.
“Going through an experience like this flips your entire family’s life upside down,” Lesli says. “It is a huge shock, and impacts a family emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially. If it wasn’t for the extremely dedicated, passionate and smart doctors, nurses and staff at Children’s National, Leilanie might not be here. Best of all – she feels like a normal kid again.”
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