Michala's Story

Our daughter Michala was born with a dark spot on her foot. We were told that the place was a birth mark, a hemangioma, a lymphangioma, and finally when it grew to a golf ball size at 6 months of age, the medical community took notice. The growth was drained one day in the doctor’s office only to be the size of a golf ball the next morning.

We were told sclerotherapy was the way to go and we were sent to Boston’s Children Hospital for the treatment. But, as she was about to be taken in for therapy, a top surgeon walked by and said he would do surgery to remove it. Chance, luck, coincidence maybe; we call it divine intervention. We believe that without this amazingly wonderful surgeon’s intercession into our lives, the outcome would have certainly been different. Four of the leading pathologist around the world studied it and the dreaded “C” word became a very real part of our lives.

Just the word angiosarcoma sounded so ugly. It lived up to its name and then some. Angiosarcoma is normally found in the elderly and is not common in very young children. Like most literature of the day, the more you read the worse the monster became.

Back in Atlanta, more of her foot was removed to try and get a clear margin. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and some of the cancer remained. It is so hard to describe the fear that a parent feels knowing that cancer remains inside your child’s body. You just want it out. It becomes obsessive. For Michala and for us the storm had only just begun to blow.

The next step was to meet with an equally amazing surgeon from Crawford Long. With the four of us crammed into a tiny office he said these words, “Her leg or her life.” It was a pretty easy decision to make when put into those simple terms. The next step was a through-the-knee amputation and very aggressive chemotherapy. When her body could no longer take more of the chemotherapy it was stopped and we prayed for clear scans.

Throughout Michala’s life storms have come and gone. Before her angiosarcoma diagnosis she was diagnosed with Aicardi Syndrome, a disease that affects only girls. There are less than 500 of these highly unique girls in the world today. By the grace of God she is here with us thirteen years later. She has a spot on her lungs, but thankfully she is doing well. Michala is a mischievous, demanding, loving, full of energy, happy, loud, tough, courageous, sweet, and an awesome daughter and sister. We are inspired by her daily and are truly blessed by our Creator whom has entrusted her earthly care to us. Any and all who meet her never forget her.