Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Tom-Ward-cancer-health

Full Text:

Tom Ward's Battle With Cancer Continues

(with cut)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Thomas Ward should have been home by now. Instead, the 12-year-old Newtown

youth is in Columbia Presbyterian's children's hospital in Manhattan, battling

an infection that threatens the amputation of his leg.

The son of Laurie and Michael Ward of Sandy Hook, Tom underwent surgery about

two weeks ago to remove a tumor in the bone below his knee on his left leg.

"It looked very good at first after the surgery," his cousin Shari Burton

said. "But he developed a staph infection in the incision. Now there's a

chance the surgeons may have to amputate to save his life."

Tom was diagnosed last spring with Ewing's sarcoma, a treatable form of bone

cancer.

"But a month and a half ago, when the tumor wasn't reacting to the

chemotherapy, the surgeons did a biopsy and sent it to Chicago for analysis.

It turned out to be a rarer type of cancer, known as spindal cell sarcoma, of

which there are only 250 known cases in the United States," Mrs Burton said.

"From what I have been told, it is the kind of cancer that has a high

percentage rate of reoccurrence and only has a 64 percent survival rate."

Despite these odds, the family remained optimistic after the tumor was

removed, she said.

Mrs Burton, who also is Tom's godmother, said the surgeons removed two veins,

muscle, and bone from the tumor site as well as the tumor itself.

"The tumor was smaller than expected, possibly because of the treatment, and

the outer part was all scar tissue. The initial pathology report was

promising. But then the staph infection developed and they had to call in an

infectious disease and wound specialist because of the necrosis. On Saturday

they went in and cut out more dead tissue," she said.

The battle now is to save Tom's leg without endangering his life. If the

physicians can't stop the infection, the risk is that it could enter Tom's

bloodstream and cause a fatal brain abscess, Mrs Burton said.

Tom is immobilized in a special bed designed to limit movement, prevent bed

sores and help keep the infection from spreading.

"He is in excruciating pain but is trying to use as little painkillers as

possible because he wants to be aware of what is going on," Mrs Burton said.

"He is such a brave 12-year-old but he's feeling kind of secluded and getting

disheartened. He's always had a good sense of humor but he's really getting

miserable. This has been going on for six months now."

Tom was transported by ambulance to Englewood, N.J., this week for an

evaluation on whether he might be treated in a hyperberic chamber, a treatment

which costs $12,000 to $15,000 a session and might not be covered by his

family's medical insurance.

"It looks like Tom is a good candidate for the treatment which is done daily

for five weeks," Mrs Burton said. "It gets more oxygen into the wound to speed

healing. He will be transported there every day while he is at Columbia

Presbyterian. If the leg heals enough, there is a possibility he could come

home and be transported to Norwalk Hospital for the treatment."

After the leg heals, Tom must immediately undergo another three to four weeks

of chemotherapy, three times a day, she said.

During the past six months out-of-pocket expenses for the family have

continued to mount. Tom's mother took a leave of absence from her job at

Danbury Hospital last March to provide round-the-clock care for her son, a

5-foot, 7-inch youth who before his illness liked to play baseball and

football. During Tom's latest ordeal, his parents are staying in New York. His

older sister, Jessica, who is in her sophomore year at Newtown High School,

will live with the Burtons when school resumes this week. Mrs Burton's mother,

Barbara Burton, who owns the Sandy Hook Deli, and Tom's mother, Laurie Ward,

are sisters.

A special blood drive was held in Newtown in May for Tom, who requires

injections of platelets because of his cancer treatment.

Because of the constant fear of infection during Tom's months of chemotherapy

and radiation, his contact with friends and the outside world has been

limited. In the hospital he has tried to entertain himself by reading, playing

Nintendo 64 and watching television. Dorrie Carolan at Newtown Health &

Fitness on Commerce Road is collecting books, video games and other items for

Tom to use during his recuperation.

A fund has been set up at Newtown Savings Bank to collect monetary donations

for the Ward family. Donations may be sent to the Thomas Ward Benefit Fund,

c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39A Main Street, PO Box 491, Newtown 06470. At St

Rose Church, where the Ward family are parishioners, the congregation has been

praying for Tom's recovery.