Trent lives in York, Pennsylvania with his loving
parents Tammy and Mark and his little brother Mickael. Tammy was pregnant with
Mickael during Trent’s treatments and for that, she wins a special awesome
Cancer Mom award! With one child upstairs on the pediatric Hem/Onc wing, Tammy
headed downstairs to maternity to give birth to the newest member of the Golden
Family! They are all happy, healthy and celebrating 7 years since
Trent’s last chemotherapy treatment this
month! - JTSF
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Written by Tammy Golden, Trent’s Mom
My son, Trent,
is a kind and loving 14-year-old. He
loves his family, friends and the life he lives. Even though he has been pricked by needles
since the age of 4, he still hates them. There’s no need for us to worry about
him getting any piercings or tattoos.
He started
swimming while being treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia and has continued
love this sport. He will be joining the high school swim team in the fall of
2013. Trent will be celebrating seven years since his last treatment for his
cancer in July 2013 (this month). He was deemed cured of his Leukemia in May of
2011.
At age 4,
Trent became very sick while we were on vacation in Florida. He was admitted to
the hospital while we were there and we were told he had Scarlet Fever. From March of 2003 until May 22, 2003, Trent
was constantly battling fevers. Finally,
on May 18th, Trent - again - had a fever that included terrible leg pain. After x-rays and blood work, our pediatrician
sent us to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. After one more blood drawl, Trent was
diagnosed with ALL.
Acute
Lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells
where malignant white blood cells are continuously over-reproduced by the bone
marrow. These cancerous white blood cells then infiltrate other organs and
organ systems causing damage and death to normal cells.
Trent was
immediately admitted to the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital to start
treatment. During his three years of treatment he had bone marrow aspirations,
x-rays, blood drawls, spinal taps, platelet transfusions, blood transfusions,
echocardiograms, MRI’s, chemotherapy and IVIG therapy.
Because Trent
was diagnosed at age four, he very rarely complained and always kept a smile on
his face, even at the worst of times. Sometimes
he fought us, his nurses and his doctors, but I think it was because he wanted
to remain brave. He also wanted everyone to know he was going to have some say
about what was being done to him.
It was very
rare to see Trent without a smile on his face.
I think, even at the age of four, he knew part of winning the battle
would need to include a positive attitude.
Yes, Trent had cancer, but cancer never
had him. He is the reason we survived as
a family.
Trent was a
participant in a clinical trial, and we know that informational gathered from
his trial during his treatment has been used to improve treatment plans for
children now and in the future. We always
stand behind the research and hope that because of the information collected
from his treatment, Trent will continue to live his regular, normal life not
even realizing everyday, he plays a part in curing other children diagnosed
with ALL.
Trent's laid back
attitude not only helped him during his treatment, but has also helped us, (as a
family) deal with the daily worry and concerns we had during his
treatment. He doesn't see it in himself,
but as a mother, I sit back and watch him and know that for the rest of his
life he will be doing things that are going to change people for the
better.
As Trent develops into a young
man, I know he will spend his life helping others. As a mom, that feels pretty darn good!
