Essential Facts about Wilms' Tumor and its impact on Trisomy 18

Faith was born in January 2019, already defying the odds of her Trisomy 18 diagnosis. Doctors said she had a slim chance of survival and predicted a life of pain. But from the start, Faith proved them wrong. She survived the removal of a ventilator in her first week and fought off a virus at just two months old.

As her mother, I quickly learned that I would need to advocate for Faith every day. The medical world labeled her “incompatible with life,” but she was thriving. One of my major concerns was the increased cancer risk children with Trisomy 18 face, particularly Wilms Tumor, a type of kidney cancer. We requested cancer screenings for Faith at her first genetics appointment, but the doctor initially denied them.

Months later, I received a call from the genetics department admitting that Faith was indeed at higher risk, and they sent us the screening orders. With the arrival of cold season and the COVID-19 pandemic, I hesitated to take her in. However, a doctor reminded me that the need for screening was more urgent than the risk of exposure.

On August 20, 2020, Faith had an ultrasound. The technician suddenly became quiet, and later that day, we learned something was wrong. Faith had multiple nephroblastomas—precancerous lesions on both kidneys—and a two-inch tumor on her left kidney. It was Wilms Tumor.

Her oncologist, Dr. Meade, laid out a plan for four months of chemotherapy. Six weeks in, an MRI revealed incredible news—the tumor had completely dissolved.

On January 15, 2021, Faith rang the bell, signaling the end of her chemo and her victory over cancer. Today, she continues to defy expectations and will celebrate three years in remission in 2025.