Cole's Story

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Zachary Cole Spillman

Me and Mommy

Happy go lucky

No child should have to go through this!

Everyone is losing their hair

Cole and Princess Mykala

Look Mom no hands....

Why is this grass so slippery?

Zachary Cole Spillman was born 26 June 2001 in a suburb of Indianapolis Indiana to Scott and Lynn Spillman.  His sister Mykala was happy to have a little brother and his mom and dad were overjoyed with the new member of the family.  

But early 2002 brought some unexpected news.  During a pediatric visit in January 2002 the doctor found that Cole's stomach was distended.  Further examinations led to the discovery of a large tumor on Cole's liver.  Cole, at six months of age, was diagnosed with Heptoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that attacks the liver an lungs of small children.  

Cole had to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery to remover a large portion of his liver, then more chemotherapy to make sure all the cancer was gone.  He has been cancer free since mid 2002.  The only lasting effect of his ordeal is hearing lose in certain bands of the spectrum, but with hearing aids and speech therapy he is doing fine.  The prognosis is good but no one, especially not at baby, should have to go through this kind of ordeal!