When he was 9 years previous, Anthony “A.J.” De La Torre’s jiu jitsu teacher gave him a nickname: The Silent Murderer.
That alter ego additionally applies to how A.J., now 16, has spent the final seven years battling a foe he can’t see that’s making an attempt to destroy him from the within: recurrent medulloblastoma, a cancerous mind tumor that’s uncommon however is the most typical type of mind tumor in youngsters.
A quiet fighter, A.J. retains defying the chances regardless of two relapses and diseases that required him to twice go on hemodialysis and spend 5 weeks in CHOC’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with respiration and different points that at sure factors turned very grave.
A.J.’s massive group of champions consists of Dr. Vanessa Wong, a pediatric essential care doctor who admitted him to the PICU early this 12 months after he was rushed to the Julia & George Argyros Emergency Division following a seizure and struggling one other seizure within the ED.
“Dr. Wong’s dedication and compassion in the direction of A.J. and our household will perpetually be etched in our hearts,” says A.J.’s mom, Carolina Valls.
Again a second time
Following that first night time within the PICU, A.J. was safely extubated and transferred out of the unit.
However issues took a flip for the more severe and A.J. was re-intubated three days later after going into respiratory failure due to parainfluenza and was again within the PICU, starting his 2 ½-month keep there below the care of a number of physicians.
“Even when Dr. Wong wasn’t assigned as his physician, she checked in a number of instances to see how he was doing,” Carolina recollects.
The mind most cancers afflicting A.J. began within the decrease again a part of the mind (the cerebellum) that’s concerned in muscle coordination, steadiness and motion. Medulloblastoma tends to unfold by means of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the mind and spinal twine.
A.J. was in fourth grade when he began mysteriously vomiting.
Docs at one other pediatric hospital recognized him with the most cancers in December 2017, eight days earlier than his 10th birthday. Later, they eliminated 95% of a tennis-ball-sized tumor (the opposite 5% had infiltrated his brainstem).
Regardless of intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy, A.J. relapsed in Could 2020 and a second time in April 2022.
After the primary relapse, A.J. underwent a stem cell transplant and after the second relapse, he underwent extra chemotherapy with proton radiation.
He additionally has had three craniotomies to resect his mind tumors.
Kidney points
A.J. got here into the care of CHOC’s ED in early 2024. Nonetheless, he was at CHOC almost a 12 months earlier than his prolonged keep within the PICU as a hemodialysis affected person.
Docs at A.J.’s earlier hospital didn’t assume he ever can be off dialysis. However CHOC’s nephrology group was in a position to obtain that in late March 2023.
Ann Fulcher, A.J.’s dialysis nurse coordinator, modified A.J.’s central line dressings each week and “would go above and past,” Carolina says.
Remembers Ann: “I used to be so completely satisfied when he went off dialysis. I noticed all that his household needed to undergo. It’s been very powerful on them. I’ve excessive respect for them, and A.J. has been so sturdy combating this battle.”
A uncommon affected person
When A.J. got here to CHOC’s ED in January 2024, he additionally wanted assist with oxygen. Pulmonologists, together with Dr. Neil Nakra, medical director of pediatricpulmonology, started treating him.
So did Dr. Antonio Arrieta, medical director of the pediatric infectious illness group.
After his discharge from the PICU, A.J. moved to the oncology unit. He lastly was in a position to go residence in late March.
Dr. Wong says it’s uncommon to see a toddler with such excessive illness acuity admitted to the PICU and seen throughout discharge.
“A.J. is a affected person that I’ll bear in mind perpetually,” says Dr. Wong. “Though I solely cared for him for a short while, his resiliency and positivity are one thing that stood out me.”
When Dr. Wong first met A.J., she thought he was going to be out and in of the hospital rapidly.
“When he sadly ended up again within the PICU a lot sicker I used to be anxious that he may not make it out of the hospital,” Dr. Wong recollects. “However, as I discovered rapidly, A.J. is a quiet fighter and stuffed with dedication. To see him by means of his journey within the PICU to the oncology ground and to lastly see him on the day he was discharged residence was actually outstanding.”
A.J. loves to attract. As a present to Dr. Wong on his discharge, he gave her a present:
A hand-drawn and coloured image of Choco, CHOC’s beloved mascot.
The inscription reads:
Thanks for taking good care of me.
Dr. Wong proudly shows it in her residence.
Making the most effective of issues
Throughout an MRI on the finish of August 2024, CHOC medical doctors detected a development of A.J.’s most cancers in his mind and backbone.
Consequently, he restarted chemotherapy.
By mid-October, MRI outcomes confirmed that general, every little thing regarded secure. And by late that month, A.J. was nonetheless off dialysis.
He continues to require oxygen 24/7 though there was enchancment in his respiration standing, Carolina says.
“It’s each day, however he makes it simpler on us,” says A.J.’s father, Richard De La Torre. “He’s all the time been a peaceful, chill child. And he doesn’t complain quite a bit. We additionally lean on God.
“We’ve endured, he’s endured, so we make the most effective of our day by day lives. The negativity can put on you down if you happen to let it.
“In all our hospital stays, we’ve by no means felt nearer or extra taken care of than throughout his PICU keep, and the dialysis nurses by no means allow us to down. Regardless of being remarkably busy, they all the time stayed up to the mark.”
A miracle teen
Members of A.J.’s care group proceed to view him as a miracle.
“He has defeated each prognosis he has ever been given,” Carolina says.
She praises CHOC medical doctors, nurses, and different care group members who work tirelessly to heal, consolation, and uplift different sufferers and households.
“Thanks for being the on a regular basis heroes that make a distinction within the lives of so many,” Carolina says.
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Be taught extra concerning the Hyundai Most cancers Heart at CHOC
CHOC Hospital was named one of many nation’s greatest youngsters’s hospitals by U.S. Information & World Report in its 2024-25 Greatest Youngsters’s Hospitals rankings and ranked within the most cancers specialty.