HOOPESTON — Willamina Clayton, daughter of Will and Katie Clayton of Hoopeston, is just 9 months old, but the tiny miss has a huge struggle ahead in her young life.
Willamina was diagnosed June 13 with a liver tumor during her nine-month checkup.
Several tests later and a liver biopsy, Dr. Hilary Frescoln of the Charlotte Ann Russell Medical Center in Hoopeston, who found the tumor, gave it a name —hepatoblastoma, a rare liver tumor that occurs in one in 1 million people a year, and most commonly found in children younger than 5 old.
“When she was born, we knew she was one in a million,” said Janet Crouch, Willamina’s grandmother. “But little did we know she would be diagnosed as that one in a million for this disease.”
Treatment for the tumor will be several cycles of chemotherapy to shrink it, followed by a resection of the liver and more chemo to make sure the cancer is gone, according to Katie.
The worst-case scenario, where resection of the tumor is not possible, a liver transplant is the recommendation.
“Several people from the community have already offered to donate a part of their liver,” Crouch said. “We are in awe of how the town has come together in support of us.”
Willamina received her first chemo infusion June 21 and the second this past Monday.
“The real story needs not to be about Willamina’s illness,” Katie said. “But about how wonderful it is that the community has pulled together to support us. I have always known what a special community that Hoopeston is — that is why Will and I made the decision to move back to Hoopeston and raise our family.”
She said critics of Hoopeston see only that the town has decreased in size and lost industry, and its work force, but they fail to see the real value of Hoopeston.
“Those critics fail to see what Hoopeston truly is: A community that bands together to support its neighbors in times of crisis and need,” Katie said. “A community with a backbone made up of faith, service and most of all, love.”
Katie, Will and grandparents Jim and Janet Crouch requested that everyone pray the tumor will shrink with the chemo so surgery can be performed to remove the diseased part.
While everyone is praying for Willamina, Katie added, also pray for all the children on the fifth floor at Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
ON THE WEB
To see Katie’s journal on Willamina, go to http://www.caringbridge.org and type Willamina in the search box.
The journal will keep everyone informed of Willamina’s journey through this illness.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo provided
Discussion
Baby is one in a million
Young Hoopeston child battles liver cancer
- Local News
-
- Community Calendar
-
Quinn defends Ill. after Caterpillar CEO blasts jobs climate
Gov. Pat Quinn defended the state’s business climate Sunday after the head of Caterpillar Inc. blasted state political leaders in a published column for not doing enough to grow business and jobs in Illinois.
- Seed-starting tips provided
- Veteran to discuss history
- Schools to compete in bee
-
County sees increase in sexually transmitted diseases
The Vermilion County Health Department took a hit in the summer of 2010 when a large number of programs offered through state grants were eliminated because of slow-moving funding.
-
Health officials seek public’s opinion
Determining the health issues local residents deem important will be the focus of an upcoming meeting in Danville.
-
Goldendoodles, family a perfect match
Chris and Kelli Pinkerton have always liked the friendly, personable golden retrievers, except for the shedding.
-
Songwriter: Time to slow down
After nearly a lifetime in the country-music business, Bob Payne has earned plenty of awards and rewards — but not the monetary kind.
-
Lincoln remains in the spotlight
Since 2002, the Papers of Abraham Lincoln has been actively obtaining images of every document by or to Abraham Lincoln.
- More Local News Headlines
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Absolute Lin-sanity
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
