At two years of age, we were released from the traveling to Philadelphia and the examinations were turned over to the retina specialist that had initially discovered the tumors. The exams under anesthetic continued every six months and became part of our normal routine. We would check into the hospital early in the morning and check out with good news by late afternoon.
It seemed that we were going to beat the odds, but then in November of 1993, when he was just three months from turning five, something terrible happened. A new tumor had appeared and was invading Justin's brain. This new tumor was termed trilateral retinoblastoma. Again we were in a race against time. We proceeded with numerous radiation treatments, steroids, and a series of chemotherapy drugs, which we hoped would destroy this new tumor.
After nine months of treatment, with no improvements, the doctor's said that we had exhausted all of our options and nothing else could be done to help my son.
During the last month of Justin's life when his health began to decline at a rapid pace I realized that there are some people that you meet in your lifetime who are exceptionally brave. Brave enough to overcome their own fear and pain to become an inspiration for others. Justin was one of those people. "Mommy, I'll be all right", he would say, "I'm five now and I'm your big boy".
Justin lost his battle with his cancer on September 27, 1994, but his memory will live on forever.
We found a retina specialist close to home who was very honest and said that there was little chance for Justin's survival, but he was very willing to help me in the battle to save his life.
He underwent his first surgery at three months of age in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, five hundred miles away from our home. He had his left eye removed and several small tumors that had invaded his right eye were treated with radioactive implants.
Although he lost his left eye, due to tumor growth, he was a very active, normal child. He was fitted with a prosthesis five months after his surgery and when he learned to talk he would say, "I bet you a quarter that I can take my eye out". Many people thought that he was joking with them and would give him the money just for being cute.
