By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com
Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/decatur/News/2812/
Brewer home from hospital
DECATUR ó Three-year-old Janalyn Brewer, who was diagnosed with ependymoma cancer in December 2007, is finally home from the hospital.
The Decatur community held a benefit for Janalyn on April 5, and nearly $ 12, 000 was raised to help her family with travel and medical expenses.
Although Janalyn is from Jane, Mo., her grandmother Gail Brewer works at Decaturís Black and Decker plant and her friends and co-workers put the benefit together.
At the July 19 ì Fun in the Park ñ Save Our School Fundraiser, î Janalyn was able to meet many of the people who contributed to her benefit.
At the event she sat on a blanket throwing a ball back and forth with a friend and was able to walk around some with help from Gail.
Just a short time ago Janalyn was a very sick child. Between December and April, Janalyn underwent 11 brain surgeries to remove tumors and place drains in her head. Altogether she spent nearly six months in the hospital. Janalyn was released from the Childrenís Hospital in Kansas City in late May, after undergoing six weeks of radiation.
A recent MRI, six weeks after the radiation was complete, shows the surgeries and radiation got all of Janalynís tumors. She will be undergoing surgery in the next couple of weeks to replace a drain on the right side of her head, Gail said. Janalyn will have to have the drains in her head for the rest of her life in order to keep her brain from swelling, and they will have to be replaced as she grows.
Janalyn still has a feeding tube in her stomach, but she began eating yogurt, jello and mashed potatoes, her grandmother said. Her stomach tube could be removed in the next few months if she continues to do well.
Janalyn can also walk with someone holding her hands. She is receiving two hours of speech, occupational and physical therapy five days a week to help her regain her strength. Gail said Janalyn has showed real determination throughout her therapy.
ì Sheís something else. Sheís a tough little girl and a fighter, î she said.
Several weeks ago, Janalyn was able to walk a fourth of the way around the track during a Relay for Life event in Cassville, Mo. It was a huge victory for her family and the community that has supported her.
ì Everyone felt she was a miracle child, î Gail said.