with Shelby & Cricket Children's Books
Shelby's Story 
Shelby was born a healthy and beautiful baby girl on April 14th, 2005 in Plano, Texas to proud parents Omar and Kimberley Rodriguez. She had three very excited older siblings, Aimee, Keaton and Skyler. Shelby grew into a beautiful and happy little toddler, smart and bright and so silly. She had a way about her that made everyone who knew her feel so loved and treasured. She was a special little girl with an understanding for love beyond her 2 years. Shelby's brother Gavin was born March 1, 2007. She loved to be big sister she especially liked giving him his bottle, kissing his face and singing songs for him. She was so sweet and gentle.
In May of 2007 Shelby, baby Gavin and I were visiting family in McAllen. I began to notice odd bruising on Shelby's body. One that especially alarmed me was a dark purple mark on her face next to her mouth. There simply was no reason for her to have a bruise there. I felt that something was wrong and I was worried. When we got back home to Frisco I called Shelby's pediatricians office (Dr. Newton) and told the nurse about Shelby's bruising. She asked me several questions about other symptoms and I responded no to all of them. She told me to call her if any new symptoms appered. About a week later Shelby had her 2 year check up that we had canceled and then rescheduled due to our trip to McAllen. Dr. Newton paid careful attention to the bruising during her check up and began to ask questions about Shelby's energy level, sleeping, appetite, etc.. We stated that over the past week she woken up several times from sleeping with her hair wet (sweating). Little did we know that Dr. Newton was putting the pieces of a puzzle together as he sent us to have blood drawn. I wanted to believe it was just a casual precaution.
We arrived home from the lab and it was one hour later that Dr. Newton called. I answered the phone to his voice saying very gently, "Shelby has Leukemia." I remember his voice calm and reassuring as I fell to floor in the bathroom sobbing. He said to take her over to Children's Medical Center Dallas right away. He had called and they were waiting for Shelby. This was June 11, 2007 the day our worst fears came to life and our journey with cancer began.
Shelby was diagnosed with standard risk preB ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). Her survival rate was around 86% according to statistics. The 14% who were not expected to survive (statistically) could be in any preB ALL risk group; low, standard or high. It could be Shelby. There are no identifiable markers to predict how well a child will respond to treatment, they just do not know yet despite years of research. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation (production by multiplication) of blood cells, usually white blood cells leukocytes. These "bad" cells take over the bone marrow and the "good" red blood cells (oxygen), platelets (clotting) and white blood cells (infection) are no longer able to survive.
Shelby began chemotherapy after being admitted to Children's June 11th. Her treatment protocol was to last 2.5 years and was divided in phases: Induction, Consolidation/Intensification and Maintenance. She would receive slightly higher doses of chemo due to a research study we agreed to take part in. The majority of the chemo would be given at a clinic in the hospital. We were sent home after a week in Children's Hospital with clinic visits scheduled every Tuesday for chemotherapy, lumbar punctures (chemo given in the spinal fluid).
Shelby went into early remission before the 28th day of treatment in June and this was good news. Her body was responding well to the chemo drugs, the Leukemia was now gone from her bone marrow. She continued with the treatment protocol throughout the summer. She had stopped walking for the month of June and into July. It was a hard time for her with clinic visits and chemo. She was sick often, unable to eat well and her hair had all fallen out by mid-July. I remember a clump of her hair coming out in my hand after giving her a bath. I felt sick inside. "Shelby," I said, "the medicine you are taking to help your blood get well is also making your hair fall out. Would you like for me to cut it in a short hair cut?" To my surprise she shook her head, "Yes," she said. I stood there carefully cutting her beautiful soft hair, making it alright for her. She looked in the mirror, smiled at herself and said' "I'm a princess!"
In the last weekend of September Shelby began to withdraw. She stopped playing, walking, eating and was barely speaking almost overnight. I knew that something was wrong. Shelby was admitted into Children's and a battery of tests were run. On October 8th, we were told that Shelby had relapsed. The Leukemia was back again in her bone marrow. Two days later a mass was discovered in Shelby's brain by a CT scan image. After a terrible week a brain biopsy revealed a mass of Leukemia cells in her brain the doctors called a Chloroma. And it was determined that the preB ALL had changed. It would take much research to determine that the preB ALL was now what they were calling a Mature B Cell Leukemia/Burkitts type Lymphoma. It was not good. There was no known path of treatment to follow now, the rules had changed and there was no data to back up treatment for this "changed" Leukemia cell. Omar and I prayed, researched and tryed to keep faith that Shelby's life would be spared. We had so many people praying for Shelby, for the doctors, for a chance.
Over the course of October and November very aggressive chemo was given to try and get Shelby back into remission. They had determined she would now need a bone marrow transplant as soon as she was in remission. A donor search had begun. Shelby struggled during these months with intense pain and vomiting. She had not stood up or walked since September. She had a NG Tube for nutrition. She and I were in the hospital and Omar was at home with Gavin and having to continue working. My mom Ann Sahadi, my daughter Aimee, mother-in-law Usnoa Rodriguez and my sister Andrea Hudler took turns flying in to take care of baby Gavin. I stayed with Shelby, she wanted to be held at all times and we slept in the tiny hospital bed together. Omar spent Saturday with Shelby and I went home to be with Gavin. Of course Omar and Gavin drove over to the hospital as well, we spent as much time together as we could.
By the end of October Shelby began to lose her eyesight. And by the start of November it was completely gone. It was a crushing blow, her precious sight lost. There was no visible cause found on MRI's, CT scans or from the ophthalmologist examinations. The doctors hoped as the Chloroma began to shrink from the chemo, her sight would return. They did not want to do radiation to that area of Shelby's brain for fear and their belief that it would cause cognitive damage to her young and developing brain. Shelby would not let me talk about her eyesight. She eventually would begin to play with me again in her hospital bed, feeling her way around her toys and never acknowledging her loss of vision. If I ever brought it up she would make a loud noise and throw her hand up in the air as if to sa,y "Stop!" It was heartbreaking but Shelby's amazing spirit prevailed.
Chemo drugs during November almost caused Shelby's death due to a toxic reaction to one in particular. She was intubated and rushed to ICU where she spent 5 days on a breathing vent. Options were running out and I prayed that Shelby would not die in ICU . "Please God not like this," I begged. Shelby miraculously recovered and we went back to the 10th floor, a new protocol had been planned. The bone marrow transplant was being planned in early January 2008 and we were again hopeful.
December 10th we received news that the Leukemia was again back. We were given one last treatment option a very aggressive chemo drug that had previously been used twice at Children's as a last chance. There was no hope of complete remission for Shelby with this drug, maybe partial remission and there was the possibility of death from the drug itself. Two children had tragically died from the toxicity of this drug at Children's.
From my Caringbridge journal MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007 11:37 AM, CST
"The Leukemia blasts are back...11% now" said Dr. Bash.
I knew it, deep down I knew it was taking over the marrow again. The doctor's will meet today, e-mail out to other gifted doctors. The new protocol is off, mainly used to maintain a remission. Options are slight. Hope is dim, doctors are "depressed." I looked up a drug they may use called Clofarabine. It has a high rate of toxicity, even death. We can take her home and love her and hold her hand and let her be. I don't want to think. I don't know. My heart wants to make things soft and safe for my little girl. We will meet with the doctor's later to discuss. Prayers my way, Omar's way for guidance now.
December 12, 2007 Omar and I took our baby girl home with hospice care and support. No more tubes, blood pressure checks, no more pain...just comfort and the peace of being home. We had six beautiful days with Shelby at home.
From my Caringbridge journal TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007 11:01 PM, CST
Shelby had a good day today. She hummed with me as I rocked her and sang to her. I felt all her warmth and her love as I held her. I was saying " Shelby I can hear you singing with me. I love your little voice. I have missed it so much!" I gave her a warm bed bath and softly rubbed lotion on her little body. I put on her cupcake pj's, her little white socks turned inside out (seams!) and wrapped her in her pink blanket.
Shelby took her last, little breath today on her Daddy's birthday. Omar and I were with her. She just quietly stopped breathing. The grief was sudden and heartbreaking. She gave no warning to us, but allowed us to be with her. She was so kind the way she left us, so like Shelby. Within the anguishing sobs, a feeling a warmth and peace began to wash over me until it filled my heart completely. Shelby filled my heart with her own radiance as she became whole again, flying over the tree tops and looking down below. "I can see," she was calling. "I can run and jump and play Mommy! I am your little Shelby!"
Thank you for getting to know our angel Shelby.
April 14,2005loveDecember18, 2007
The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.
Elizabeth Kubler Ross
Omar & Kimberley
Shelby's Mom and Dad
