26 Aug In One Moment, Everything Changed

On August 19, 2018, my husband Warren and I rushed our 2-year-old daughter Addi to the hospital. We thought she had appendicitis, but a few hours later doctors shattered our world. Addi had a large tumor in her abdomen and was immediately admitted.

The next week was full of tests, biopsies, and scans. Then we received the worst news a parent could imagine — Addi was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma stage 4 high risk cancer in her kidney and adrenal gland. And it had metastasized to her skull, arms, hips and lungs. A treatment plan was developed and we began what would be a very long, hard journey.

In one moment — and one diagnosis — everything changed. I resigned from my career and we embraced doing what had we had to do to help Addi fight cancer.

In February 2019, Addi experienced acute liver failure from treatment complications and almost died. Medical care shifted from treating her cancer to saving her life. She spent the next 47 days in the hospital fighting to survive.

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities was such a blessing to our family while Addi was receiving treatment in Atlanta. Although we couldn’t be home for weeks and months at a time, the House gave us all the comforts of home. It is clean, safe, convenient to the hospital and has an amazing play area for Addi where she can just be a kid, not a kid with cancer.

Today Addi has no evidence of disease. Sadly, Neuroblastoma has a 60% to 80% chance of recurrence so we have enrolled in an experimental treatment trial in New York and still come to Atlanta for testing. We know we always have a home away from home at the House in Atlanta.

We are extremely grateful for Atlanta RMHC and all they continue to do to support our family. When you donate to Atlanta RMHC you are helping kids like Addi and parents like me who never thought we would need a Ronald McDonald House.

Your support keeps families like mine together and gives us strength and hope.

Thank you,

Leanne Masten