Amber Dugan was diagnosed with Stage IV Ewings Sarcoma in Aug 2004 when she was 9. It was found in her rib and had spread to her bone marrow. She completed many rounds of chemotherapy and had high dose chemotherapy, total body irradiation (TBI) and 2 bone marrow transplants in Feb and Apr 2005. In January 2007, she relapsed. It was found in her bone marrow, on her skull, femur and spine. She received localized radiation to her skull and received one year of chemotherapy. She completed that in Dec. 2007.
She went on maintenance chemo and had a second relapse in April 2008. It was again found in her bone marrow and on her skull. She then was treated in Bethesda MD at NIH. She was in a clinical trial for the drug R1507 and was on that for about 6 months and then the cancer started growing again. It had spread to many parts of her body. In October 2008 she had 20 radiation treatments to her left clavical. The chances for a cure were exhausted by the doctors and she was put on pain management chemo. That had stopped progression of the disease for a few months.
On Feb. 5 2009 we had results come back that it had again started growing. The doctors decided that she would receive radiation to her right femur near her hip and left distal femur. However, she was put in a wheelchair and allowed limited movement with crutches due to the likelihood of it breaking from the tumor. Chemo was changed but stressed that this is the last chemo option she would have.
On Friday, April 3rd, 2009 - Amber Renee Dugan, age 14, passed away at her home in Sharon Township on May 28, 2009 where she was surrounded by her family.
So many times I remember packing for our hospital stays and Amber was so concerned with packing not anything to entertain herself for the week, but to pack toys and stuffed animals to pass out to the other children there. I wanted to say but Amber you are one of these children suffering.. what about you and what you want….. but that has never been Amber in any of this. Afterall, I see all the joy she has brought to my life so it is only natural for her to bring that to all those she meets. Now through this fund I want to honor Amber’s memory by continuing to help the children and their families.
I thank you so much for taking the time to learn about my little angel Amber.