fighting neuroblastoma over half his life
Patrick Chance is the seven year-old son of Erin and Stephen Chance. Patrick lives in Atlanta with his sisters, Madison (9) and Anna (4), and his dogs, Banks and Bear. He loves the ocean, spiders, baseball, golf, firefighters, Spider-Man, and GI Joe.
In June of 2006, Patrick was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. It took surgery, ten cycles of toxic chemotherapy, twelve rounds of radiation, and one cycle of monoclonal antibody therapy to rid Patrick of this terrible disease The last cycle of chemotherapy was so strong that he required autologous stem cell rescue to survive. He continues to receive painful antibody therapy in hopes of keeping him in remission. He is still at high risk for relapse and at risk for secondary cancers like leukemia as well as infertility, scoliosis, and other significant side effects. Simply put, the current treatments for neuroblastoma are not good enough. With your help, we plan to change that.
Farewell – A Message to the Children
Stephen and Erin Chance January 14, 2012
Thank you to everyone who has supported us through these last five and a half years and especially now. We are very, very grateful. We love you.
Patrick Chance, 9, of Atlanta Georgia
AJC January 11, 2012
Patrick Roberts Chance, 9, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Cashiers, North Carolina, passed away on January 9, 2012, his ninth birthday, after a valiant battle with childhood cancer.
Happy Birthday Patrick
posted on CarePages January 9, 2012
at 6:00 pm
Patrick Roberts Chance
January 9, 2003 – January 9, 2012
Patrick passed away peacefully today immediately after a ray of sunshine broke through the clouds and lit up his room. He was surrounded by family and friends. Erin read Madison’s birthday letter to him and then he finally won his battle. In addition to the legacy of love we spoke of last night, he will give two strangers the ability to see. How wonderful that his eyes will continue to behold God’s creation.
Almost Nine and Almost Free
posted on CarePages January 8, 2012
In just a little while Patrick will celebrate his ninth birthday surrounded by family and adult friends, nurses and doctors in the comforting surroundings of CHOA where this journey began. There will be no cake or plastic toys or electronic gadgets or even Legos. The only gifts will be boundless love and peace. The girls are working on letters to read to him. He can hear us but can only utter a few words at a time. His cure is very near in time. He looks beautiful. He told us tonight that he is not scared. … read more
Orlando!
posted on CarePages December 2, 2011
As I write this, Stephen and Patrick are in Orlando with our dear friends, Scott and Cannon. They are staying at the Nickelodeon Hotel, and the boys were thrilled about getting slimed. They are visiting Legoland today, and to say that Patrick is excited is a vast understatement! Tomorrow, they will fish the St. John’s River and then cheer the Dawgs onto an SEC Championship victory (a tall order, but you gotta believe!). Patrick has been begging to go fishing since missing his annual fall fishing trip in October. I am so happy he feels well enough to enjoy this opportunity!! …read more
Thankful
posted on CarePages November 13, 2011
We received some extremely good quality of life news on Thursday – our next round of hu14.18 will be here in Atlanta! We are thrilled…. as you can imagine the separation of Patrick and me from Stephen and the girls is difficult and lonely. We are thrilled that our separation will be a matter of a mile rather than almost 800 miles! … read more
Uneventful
posted on CarePages October 18, 2011
Quick update: Despite the intense buildup to infusion time, today was relatively uneventful. The only pain was caused by the IV. There was a little nausea, but that can be any day for Patrick. There was a lot of boredom. The next two days loom LONG for us, but we are taking care of business! Thank goodness for books, DVDs, sticker books, legos (the few we could find in the playroom were put to good use!), and the Internet! I will update more tomorrow but as for now, there is not much to report!
We Press On!
Erin and Patrick
Avada Kedavra
posted on CarePages September 21, 2011
The hu14.18 trial we have been waiting for so intently will open officially on Monday! On Sunday, October 2, we are taking the kids to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Orlando for a few days. Patrick and I will fly from Orlando to Philadelphia on October 5 for a full disease evaluation at CHOP on October 6 and 7. We hope to spend a long weekend in the mountains after that. If all goes well with the disease evaluation and other tests, we will enroll Patrick in the trial and fly back to Philadelphia the following week for treatment. This trial will open at CHOA later, and it appears we can transfer back home at some point so we won’t have the travel burden forever. The treatments will be tough on Patrick, but he can handle them. … read more
Still Hope
posted on CarePages September 12, 2011
I just hung up with Dr. Maris and Erin. Dr. Maris confirmed what we have seen for the last week – that Patrick looks good, feels good, and there is no reason to believe that MIBG is not working. He is therefore moving ahead with stem cell infusion this afternoon. …read more
Make Something Beautiful
posted on CarePages September 3, 2011
Patrick and I flew to Philly on Wednesday, met with Dr. Maris, and proceeded with MIBG treatment #4. No child has ever had more than 5. Patrick’s skeleton and bone marrow host billions of neuroblastoma cells that are now being carpet bombed by trojan horse radiation. We know this has worked very well for him before to knock down disease with the hope that we could transition to antibody therapy or other trials that have simply not panned out. So we try again. … read more
Finding the Joy
posted on CarePages August 25, 2011
I have started this update several times, but the words keep failing me. I want to find an eloquent way to tell you and myself that everything is wonderful and that Patrick’s cancer is cured. Unfortunately, the truth is that the scans yesterday were not good no matter how positively you try to look at them. This was not a surprise, but it was still painful. Patrick has extensive disease in his shoulders, arms, spine, and legs. Amazingly and in keeping with his character, he has not complained one time of pain, which is unbelievable when you look at those scans. …read more
Scan Plan
posted on CarePages August 22, 2011
Patrick’s eye is looking much better, but his haircut looks pretty rough. As if on cue, after I posted last about no hair loss occurring yet, Patrick’s hair began to fall out. He opted for a home grown mohawk, which is certainly savage. He is transfusion dependent for platelets, but his ANC is climbing slowly. He is scheduled for a CT tomorrow, probably platelets, maybe blood, and a MIBG injection. … read more
Major Drama
posted on CarePages August 16, 2011
You haven’t heard from me in a while. I have abdicated update responsibility to Erin while I struggled to find inspiration and recovered from a series of body blows. As a multi-generational Augusta native, pride in the Masters is a given. One wonderful thing about the U.S. Open, though, is that the drama unfolds on Father’s Day. This Father’s Day is when Rory McIlroy shook off a dreadful Masters collapse and won with as much class as he lost with in Augusta. read more
Press On!
posted on CarePages August 3, 2011
Patrick has enjoyed his best summer in recent memory. His last 5 summers have been dominated by intense treatment, hospitalization, and travel. This summer, due to many factors that I am going to refrain from venting about here, his treatment has been minimal. This has allowed him to spend a ton of time playing with friends, fishing, tubing, going to the beach with his best friend, and relaxing in the mountains. … read more
Clear!
posted on CarePages June 15, 2011
We were blessed with a wonderful surprise this morning when Patrick’s MIBG scan was clear!!!! Although this doesn’t mean he is in remission due to the very probable marrow disease, we are thrilled that his low disease burden means treatments may be more effective. We are beyond happy with this result. …read more
Last Day of School
posted on CarePages May 27, 2011
What an emotional day for me, and I presume Patrick is feeling it, too. Today is our last day of school, which is a bittersweet day for all families. Another year gone by, another sign of how fast childhood passes. Today is more than that for me. As some of you know, we have decided to home school Patrick next year for a variety of reasons. …read more
Eeking Under the Limit!
posted on CarePages April 16, 2011
Stephen and Patrick are on a flight home as I type this update, a little later than the scheduled arrival time. Patrick’s radiation level was 6.5 this morning, barely below the release limit of 7. We were concerned that he would be inpatient a little longer this time because his radiation level immediately after infusion was 50 as opposed to the mid-30s level the last 2 treatments. I was very relieved when I heard the news this morning. After a platelet transfusion and a quick scan, the boys were released for home. …read more
Take Dead Aim!
posted on CarePages April 14, 2011
As I write, the second dose of MIBG is infusing into Patrick’s body. Radiolabeled iodine is circulating through his vessels and being soaked up by neuroblastoma cells that will soon die. Many will not, but today at least we have our heels on the throat of the beast.
…read more
Much Improved!
posted on CarePages March 30, 2011
Patrick had his MIBG scan six weeks post MIBG treatment this morning and the results are very good. There is still evidence of some disease, but Dr. Katzenstein described the disease burden as much improved. We have not yet heard from the team at CHOP about their impressions and recommendations going forward, but we feel fairly certain that we will repeat MIBG treatment as soon as Patrick’s counts allow. …read more
Kissing the Sidewalk
posted on CarePages Feb 19, 2011
Yes, kissing the sidewalk is what Patrick was doing when he jumped out of the car beside our house this evening. OUR HOUSE!!! He literally laid down on the ground and smooched the cement like it was his favorite Valentine. …read more
Open Windows
posted on CarePages Feb 15, 2011 7:34pm
When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. – Maria from The Sound of Music …read more
Still Stable
posted on CarePages Feb 11, 2011 2:01pm
Erin and Patrick are on the way back from Philadelphia with news of stable scans, which is reassuring and offers hope that next week’s stem cell collection and, hopefully, MIBG treatment will arrest any disease progression underway and, even better, greatly reduce Patrick’s disease burden. …read more
Pressing On
posted on CarePages Jan 27, 2011 10:32pm
There are times in life when you know the content of a message before it is received, and Monday night proved to be one of those moments. Patrick’s scan was read as “stable” last week in Philadelphia, but it looked horrible to me, leaving me unsettled and anxious. …read more
Homeward Bound
posted on CarePages Jan 19, 2011
Erin and Patrick are in flight headed home. His scans are stable. We are grateful but on alert …read more
Patrick’s CarePage
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Patrick never give up always have hope and joy everybody counts on u everybody loves u patrick always keep holding on
patrick was funny and he never stopped smileing. I was in his sister (madison’s) class and she always thought he was funny.
What they said he was funny
I do not know your family, but have been following you through the Simpkins connection. I am so sorry for your loss and please know that you and your family are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. From what I hear, Patrick was a special boy and was lucky to have so many loving relationships and experiences. Chris, Ella, Hatch & Bailey Means
I am heartbroken over your lose. I know that he will be greatly missed. What a blessing he was to so many people. I will be thinking of all of you.
My heart and prayers go out to you and you family. We were the family across the hall from y’all last night. We will continue to pray that God will give your family the comfort they need in the days a
head. God bless y’all.
The “Emily” Warren Family
Patrick,
Stay strong and have fun buddy! All of us at NFD say hello. You are always on our minds!
FF Chris Dahlem