Our names are Kathy & Juan Tamayo and we are the proud parents of Brianna Tamayo.
Our daughter Brianna, at the age of 3 years old, was diagnosed on June 25, 2009 with Stage 5 Wilms Tumor Cancer.
When she was diagnosed with this cancer it was found in her lungs & kidneys. About one year ago she had one of her kidneys removed and has had chemo and radiation treatments since her diagnoses and has exceeded all her treatments. She has been battling this cancer for about 2 yrs and unfortunately the cancer has now spread to her liver. Brianna turned 5 years old on March 31st and on April 6 the doctors at the Long Beach Memorial Hospital said that all treatments have failed and there is no cure for her and was sent home from the hospital. She now has days/months to live. This is very devastating for our family to have to go threw this. Everyday has been a challenge, but Brianna has shown strength and has been very courageous threw out this battle. We cherish and Thank God for every moment he has given us with our precious Princess Brianna. This has also been very hard on our other children Amanda, Stephanie & Alex. We can't imagine having to bury our daughter and the thought of this is very overwhelming. We would like to thank everyone for all their love & support throughout this devastating time in our family.
Brianna enjoys playing hide and seek, riding her bike, but most of all, she loves Cinderella. She has one wish and that is to start kindergarten.
We are very sad to announce that Brianna was taken by God on April 29 around 5am.
May God bless our family and comfort us during this difficult time.
"A Celebration of Life" Comedy Show Fundraiser for Brianna Tamayo, Sat. May 7th Show starts at 8pm at Sierra Gym 9401 S. Painter Ave. in Whittier. Tickets are $20, All sales will be donated to the Tamayo family. If you would like to buy a ticket please contact Cindy at 323-979-1853
"Remember, together we CAN make a difference"
We are asking for everyone to keep her in your thoughts & prayers. All donations will go towards funeral expensives.
If you would like to make a donation, you can make a deposit at:
Wells Fargo Saving account name Brianna Tamayo Acct# 1610354860
Out of state wire transfers to:
Main Office
Wells Fargo
420 Montgomery
San Francisco, Ca 94104
Routing# 121000248
Swift Bic# WFBIUS65
We have posted some information on Wilm's Tumor Cancer below. We want all of you to be educated on this, especially if you have children or expecting or even if you know someone who does and maybe experiencing these types of symptoms so that it can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
Wilms Tumor Cancer
Nephroblastoma; Kidney tumor
Wilms tumor is a type of kidney cancer that occurs in children.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Wilms tumor is the most common form of childhood kidney cancer. The exact cause of this tumor in most children is unknown.
A missing iris of the eye (aniridia) is a birth defect that is sometimes associated with Wilms tumor. Other birth defects linked to this type of kidney cancer include certain urinary tract problems and enlargement of one side of the body, a condition called hemihypertrophy.
It is more common among some siblings and twins, which suggests a possible genetic cause.
The disease occurs in about 1 out of 200,000 to 250,000 children. It usually strikes when a child is about 3 years old. It rarely develops after age 8.
Symptoms are as follows:
Abdominal pain, Constipation, Fever, General discomfort or uneasiness (malaise), High blood pressure, Increased growth on only one side of the body, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Swelling in the abdomen (abdominal hernia or mass), Vomiting
Note: Abnormal urine color may also be associated with this disease.
Signs and tests
Special emphasis is placed on the history and physical exam. The doctor may ask if you have a family history of cancer and look for associated birth defects in the child.
A physical examination reveals an abdominal mass. High blood pressure may also be present.
Blood in the urine occurs in less than 25% of children.
Tests include:
Abdominal ultrasound
Abdominal x-ray
BUN
Chest x-ray
Complete blood count (may show anemia)
Creatinine
Creatinine clearance
CT scan of the abdomen
Intravenous pyelogram
Urinalysis
Other tests may be required to determine if the tumor has spread.
Treatment
If your child is diagnosed with this condition, avoid prodding or pushing on the child's belly area, and use care during bathing and handling to avoid injury to the tumor site.
The first step in treatment is to stage the tumor. Staging helps doctors determine how far the cancer has spread and to plan for the best treatment. Surgery to remove the tumor is scheduled as soon as possible. Surrounding tissues and organs may also need to be removed if the tumor has spread.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy will often be started after surgery, depending on the stage of the tumor.
Expectations (prognosis)
Children whose tumor has not spread have a 90% cure rate with appropriate treatment.
Complications
The tumor may become quite large, but usually remains self-enclosed. Spread of the tumor to the lungs, liver, bone, or brain is the most worrisome complication.
High blood pressure and kidney damage may occur as the result of the tumor or its treatment.
Removal of Wilms tumor from both kidneys may affect kidney function.
Thank you,
The Tamayo Family
