Meagan always silently wished to have a beautiful daughter, and on July 19, 2017, she gave birth to the most gorgeous little baby girl, Piper Winifred. The couple already had two boys, Cayden and Franklin, but now the family of five feels whole. Piper was a calm baby who bonded quickly with her elder brothers. Their house was pure magic, surrounded by laughter and love. However, soon, things changed.
Piper was not even one when she started showing symptoms of something big. The baby was vomiting and repeatedly had high fevers, and the child was just 10 months old, but the doctors dismissed it, saying that it was just a virus that would go away. However, when the mother realised that there was a lump in the baby’s abdomen, she knew there was something wrong, and so the baby was taken to a GP.
The GP suggested that frequent visits to the hospital should be made as the baby’s liver was enlarged, and it was likely that the baby might have cancer. When the test results came out, their world shattered when the doctor confirmed it was stage 4, neuroblastoma.
It was an aggressive and rare type of cancer that children get. The worst part was that the cancer had already spread to various parts of the baby’s body when they found out.
Chemotherapy was begun with no more wait, and the baby girl had to go through surgery before that to place a central line. The treatment was harsh as it required multiple rounds of chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation. Meagan, the mother, spent her entire day with the baby, caring for and navigating through the long, tiring days at the hospital. What made it all worse was that she could not give her boys enough time either.
Piper, like a warrior, fought through every step. The transplant was tough as little Piper was isolated from her brother for four whole weeks. The doctors decided to discharge her on Christmas that year, and after months of grief, the family finally got peace and a few moments of joy. However, it did not last long; in 2019, Piper’s health started declining again. The baby could not walk, which concerned the mother, but the doctors gave her hope by stating that they were just a side effect of the treatment.
In June, Piper underwent scans, and what the reports stated was tragic. Her cancer had spread to her entire body, and the liver was adversely damaged. The parents looked for options overseas to get the baby treated and were all set for a few more chemo sessions, but nothing seemed to work.
On June 17, when the baby’s condition declined adversely, the family was sent home, and they were all prepared, this time to lose her forever. Thus, the parents explained the situation to her brothers, and the 5-year-old younger brother, Cayden, suggested that a doctor could help her, which tore up the family. On the night of the 20th, Piper vomited blood and later that night passed away.
It was the kind of pain the parents had never imagined, and no one amongst the family of 4 was ready to bid goodbye ot the little angel. However, she left forever just a few weeks before the baby turned two. Her absence is still felt daily; however, the time she spent with her family significantly impacted her family, and they will forever hold on to the beautiful memories.
