The Hanst Family: Amanda, 5 and
Katherine, deceased
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
How much pain can one family bear? It’s a
question Melissa Hanst has no doubt asked herself.
After giving birth to twin daughters,
Amanda and Katherine, the twins were diagnosed with Down Syndrome, a
genetic disorder that causes developmental delays in children. They
later discovered that Amanda had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Three
months later Katherine received the same shocking diagnosis.
The family immediately sought treatment
for their children at Texas Children’s Hospital, but Katherine’s
body could not fight the illness and she passed away.
“I do get angry,” Melissa readily admits.
“My daughter who I worked hard to take care of was taken away.
Amanda’s best friend was taken away.”
An understanding of this kind of anger and
pain caused doctors and nurses who weren’t even on call the night
Katherine died to come to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
“The staff at Texas Children’s let me stay
in Katherine’s room for as long as I needed to after she passed.
Texas Children’s Hospital gave me all the time I needed to say
goodbye,” she said.
In addition to the hospital staff, Melissa
is also appreciative of the staff at Yorkshire Academy, where she is
employed. On the day of Katherine’s funeral every class was staffed
with a substitute teacher so the faculty could attend the funeral.
They also brought her dinner for an entire month after Katherine’s
death.
This is the kind of support system that
many families of patients at Texas Children’s Hospital need. Any
parent will tell you that it certainly doesn’t make the pain go
away, but it does make coping a little more manageable.
“I have three hospitals right next to my
house but I would never take my kids anywhere other than Texas
Children’s Hospital,” she said. “They make us feel like my daughter
is the only cancer patient they have. The doctors and nurses are so
attentive and caring.”
The good news for Melissa Hanst and her
family is that Amanda’s leukemia is in remission. “Amanda is cancer
free. It is a great thing but I am going to miss coming up here with
all the wonderful staff.”
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