Laura: ‘A few days later, we were at the Princess Máxima Center for the first time, where the treatment for osteosarcoma was quickly started. Ten months of chemotherapy and a rotationplasty, where his lower leg was reversed so that his ankle joint became a new knee joint. We celebrated his second birthday in the hospital.
Rowan went through the treatments relatively easily, even after the first prosthesis was fitted, he was walking around without a walker in a bizarrely short time. Unfortunately, Rowan was also diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, which means that he is at a higher risk for recurrence and other forms of cancer than other children. This also turned out to be the cause of the cancer at such a young age.
Wrong again
On November 1 2023, Rowan had his last round of chemo and was ‘clean’. Unfortunately, six weeks later, things went wrong again. He started limping again, and several scans later revealed a new tumor in the same spot. Follow-up scans also revealed metastases throughout his body, making a cure impossible. In order not to burden him unnecessarily with treatments, I decided, in consultation with the doctors, not to treat him any further, and with all the help and support of the Máxima Center and Home Care, we were able to spend another precious month together at home, and he also died at home with me.
Lots of support
You never want to be in the hospital with your child, but if you have to be there, preferably at the Máxima Center. The dedication, warmth and support I received from the hospital is beyond words. Shortly before Rowan was born, his father was also diagnosed with cancer (not hereditary). He died seven months later. This left me alone as a parent, despite all the help I had from my family. I had and still have a lot of support from all the caring and knowledgeable doctors and staff at the Máxima Center. My advice to other parents: Ask for help when you need it and take care of yourself.
Cheering
For Rowan, every trip to the Máxima Center was a celebration. In fact, he cheered in his car seat as we pulled off the highway and saw the Rainbow Bridge. That's what a hospital does, right?! He loved the toddler gym, the highlight of his day. And the wonderful parent-child rooms that allow you as a parent to be close to your child but still have your own space, which makes the treatments as manageable as possible for you as a parent.’