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Six-year-old faces cancer with comedy By DAWN SLADE Six-year-old Jared Tomala is undergoing treatment for cancer but it hasn't gotten him down. Instead, the comedic boy is keeping his family in good spirits and making nurses laugh. "Look, Mom, no hair" the Pierz boy says to his mother, Tina Tomala. On May 20, Tina and her husband Billy learned that their son Jared had a Wilm's tumor on his kidney. But it took some time before they learned Jared had cancer. Back in March the family thought Jared had appendicitis, but doctors didn't find anything. Jared continued to attend kindergarten at Holy Trinity in Pierz while competing in wrestling (he went to state this year). But on May 11, he took a spill and after falling he complained of his stomach hurting. According to Tina, his stomach began swelling. Two days later they took Jared to the hospital where x-rays were taken. Again, doctors didn't find anything and assumed his bowels were blocked up, so they sent him home with a laxative. Tina said that because of insurance reasons a lot of tests that probably should have been done on Jared, weren't. But Jared's stomach started getting larger and his belly button was starting to stick out, so he went back in on May 20. That was when a CAT scan and blood work determined Jared had cancer. Dr. Steve Danielson of the St. Cloud Medical Group found the cancer and thought it was a Wilm's tumor. Wilm's tumor is a cancerous tumor on the kidney. Also known as nephroblastoma, Wilm's is the most common form of kidney cancer and it can spread into the lungs and other areas of the body. It accounts for six to seven percent of childhood cancer cases. The tumor was found on Jared's right kidney. The kidneys are located at the back of the abdominal cavity (to the right and left of the spine). Two days later on May 22, Jared had his first of three surgeries. The exploratory surgery found the tumor was not attached to the liver, so doctors removed a large portion (football-sized) from his kidney. Unfortunately, Jared's left kidney needed some surgery as well, which is why they didn't remove the entire tumor and left about a grape fruit-size portion of tumor in place. Jared's left kidney required surgery to remove it from his pelvic area. So, on June 3, doctors performed the surgery on his left kidney, which is beginning to function better. "They wanted to make sure it was functioning properly," Tina said of the left kidney. On Friday, July 11, Jared had his third surgery to remove a stent that was put in during the last surgery and to remove the rest of the tumor from his right kidney. According to Tina, 75 percent of Jared's right kidney is in place and still testing positive for cancer. Doctors feel they can get rid of the cancer through radiation and chemotherapy. But, they don't want to remove that kidney since the left kidney isn't functioning at 100 percent yet. Jared started radiation on his entire abdomen on Wednesday, July 16 and is now at home recovering. The side effects from radiation are similar to chemo, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Tina said Jared could eventually lose an inch from his overall height. The radiation did affect Jared's stomach lining, which has been removed. But, doctors have assured Tina that Jared doesn't need that to survive. Recovery So, how's the six-year-old holding up? "Really good," Tina says of her son. "It's surprising how well he's doing." The rest of the family is doing pretty well also, Tina said. The Tomalas have five children, Nathan, 9, Elizabeth, 8, Jared, Andrew 4 and Brandon, 2. "The younger ones know he has some ïowies,'" Tina said. The kids go to their Grandma's home or aunt's house. Tina's parents, Hubert and Donna Kelash, live in rural Foley, near Ramey, and help out with the grandkids. "We get home as soon as we can so we can be together," Tina added. Ironically, Billy, an electrician for Al's Electric in St. Cloud, has been home and unable to work due to an injury. And Tina works on-call at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls as a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), so she's been able to be with Jared also. Jared will have six doses of radiation at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis and will continue chemotherapy once a week until he's received it for 26-27 weeks. He is receiving three different types of chemo, which is injected into a port. Obviously, the hair loss isn't an issue for Jared. "He thinks it's funny," Tina said. "We don't need it for summer," Jared told his mom. For the little boy who's had three surgeries, radiation, chemo and has been in the hospital for more than 20 days since May, he seems to be holding up quite well. "I can't believe how he bounces back," Tina said of Jared. "He's doing better than I think I would be doing. "He's our little comedian." Benefit A family friend, Jill "J.R." Brausen, has organized a dance, auction and raffle benefit for the family to help with the accumulating medical bills. A bill the family has received already is for one day at the hospital. That one bill is for $50,000. The benefit takes place Saturday, July 26 at the Pierz Ballroom at 5 p.m. A minimum donation of $5 is being requested by the organizers. Tina said Jared's going to try to be at the benefit, but he'll be recovering from another chemo treatment this week. "It's got its moments," Tina says of the family's situation. But she adds, "Our family and community has been great." Note: Donations can be sent to the Greater Minnesota Credit Union in Milaca with all proceeds going to the family.
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