Chase's Story...a story worth sharing

This is about my fiance's 18 year old son, Chase, and how life can truly change in a moment!

It began in early November. Chase had been up north hunting with a friend.

He came home and was complaining of a stiff neck. His Dad gave him a heating pad, he took some Aleve, but found very little relief.

It was decided to go to Tria and have it checked out. Perhaps it was a pinched nerve, or something that needed more then a heating pad.

A therapist there worked on him a few times, again with no results so he was referred to a neurologist in St Louis Park.

After some MRI's came back they saw that there was swelling in the spinal cord.

And even with that they were puzzled as to what was causing the pain, numbness and tingling that had begun to travel down Chase's left arm.

He was started on a 5-day course of IV steroids. Which Chase drove himself back and forth to Methodist Hospital from Eden Prairie.

Through it all the pain, tingling and numbness persisted.

By this time it was probably early December.

The symptoms began to travel into his right arm and eventually causing his left leg to drag.

The doctor thought that it may have been Lyme's disease or Transverse Myelitis. Which precipitated a spinal tap to try, if not figure out what it was, at least rule out what it wasn't.

It was decided that it was not Lyme's or MS. At that time, we as a family considered that a relief, a kind of good news.

So he underwent another course of IV steroids, followed by a week of oral steroids.

The symptoms became more and more problematic and we were becoming more and more concerned as to what was going on in his body.

The holidays & family birthdays were approaching.

Chase drove himself and his 16 year old sister to spend Christmas day with some cousins in Prior Lake.

That was to be the last day he drove his truck.

Nothing was getting better, in fact as time passed it only became worse.

Finally a decision was made to go and see a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

With Transverse Myelitis, if you are seeing no results with steroids the next step is plasma exchange, similar to kidney dialysis.

This Mayo neurologist scheduled that procedure for Chase.

We have come to discover that Mayo attributes much of it's success to always working as a team. More minds often results in more successful outcomes.

Days before the plasma exchange was to take place, a 30'something resident suggested that what they were actually seeing in the MRI's was a tumor.

This is where "life starts to flip on a dime".

Surgery was scheduled to determine if it was in fact a tumor and what kind it was. We were given several different scenarios and we began to prepare as a family to enter the unknown.

Chase had been admitted to the hospital already. He and his Dad really wanted to go home for a couple days to prepare for the surgery as a family.

That Sunday was awesome, a GIFT! He was surrounded by love & support literally.

By early Monday morning plans collapsed. He had lost control of his bladder during the early morning hours.

Should the tumor begin causing swelling further up the spine it could compromise his breathing.

Time to arrange for transport back to Rochester.

The seriousness of what we were facing truly began to sink in.

The day of surgery he left the room at around 7 AM and did not return to ICU until almost 8PM. His grandmother had reassured him prior to surgery to think of it like a ballgame, at the worst a double-header. Little did we know it would go beyond a triple-header.

Of all the scenarios described by the surgical team; the least favorable one was the news that was finally delivered to the family.

It was described as an "astral glioma", a very, very rare tumor.

So now Chase not only has a tumor, but due to the location he is also a quadriplegic.

They removed 4 vertebrae and reinforced that space with steel fusion.

So essentially he has been in the hospital since mid-January and life as we knew it has ceased to exist.

Since surgery there have been good days and bad days.

Presently he is on the re-hab floor. The best place he has been since it all began. It keeps him very busy.

Chase is also undergoing radiation treatments M-F, 11 down and 19 to go. Which will be followed by oral chemo when he returns home.

It is a very fluid tumor. They described new growths as almost tentacle like.

Due to where it is located and the "nature of the beast" it will be very difficult to eradicate completely.

But we are steadily praying for miracles.

Fortunately his Dad has insurance and is taking family medical leave. He is essentially living at the hospital as well.

There are so many unknowns and so much to prepare for, for Chase's return home. Presently projected to be March 20th.

We can't help but wonder if not so much time had been spent with a wrong diagnosis would his prognosis be better?

Telling an 18 year old, a senior in high school...on the cusp of adulthood he has cancer is hard enough, but to also say you are a quadriplegic is devastating!

We have established a Caring Bridge site at www.caringbridge.org go to the “visit” tab and enter  "chasesterry". This has been very helpful in sharing Chase’s accomplishments and celebrations!

There is also a BELIEVE IN CHASE page on Facebook.

A benefit will be held on Thursday, April 4^th at Canterbury Park, Shakopee. To help the family with the expenses necessary to accommodate his "new life".

Donations can be made at US Bank; “Benefit for Chase A. Sterry” 

I think his is a story worth sharing.

One we never in a million years thought we would be facing.

Through it all he has been simply amazing, inspiring and humbling. He has made us truly realize how fragile life can be, and what is really important!

We ordered wristbands that say “Believe In Chase” that are available for a $5.00 donation.

When we received the order inside the bag were a couple wristbands the same color blue, that said “Driven2Achieve”. That is the one we gave Chase to wear!

He surprises us every day with his determination to beat this!!

                                                                                                            March20^th 2013

We left the hospital today. I described the next part of the journey like being on the Power Tower at Valleyfair. We are exhilarated, confident, and scared out of our wits…simultaneously!

Everyone that came to say good-bye to Chase reminded him of what an inspiring, courageous and humble individual he is. His experience needs to be heard if for no other reason then to remind us all of how fragile and tenuous life is and to recognize it as the GIFT that it is every day!