The Run to Cure Cancer

Elijah (Eli) Horn from Ames, Iowa was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma on June 29th, 2007 at around the age of three and a half. He had a massive tumor growing in his body that went from his pelvis, up through his abdomen, and up into his chest. Eli was being treated in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Childr…en’s Hospital until November of 2007. The plan in Iowa City was like most plans around the country, to give Eli 5 rounds of chemo, surgically remove whatever tumor is left in his abdomen, and then do tandem autologous stem cell transplants. It is a very dangerous and extremely high dose chemotherapy that basically wipes out all of your body’s stem cells, then you rescue their body by transplanting them with their own stem cells you harvested earlier in the process. We came to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City in October of 2007 for the hands of Dr. LaQuaglia who performed Eli’s surgery to remove the tumor from around his aorta, his kidney arteries, and everywhere else the tumor was still found. People come from all over the world to have Dr. LaQuaglia do their Neuroblastoma surgery. He is an amazing surgeon. During the time we were here, we learned about Sloan’s alternative to stem cell transplants.

The team in NYC uses 3F8 antibody treatments that highlight the Neuroblastoma cells and makes your own body attack the cancer. Even though it is considered more “experimental”, it has a good 20 year track record and we feel that there is much more experience with this cancer here in NYC. Eli finished 7 rounds of chemotherapy and 14 rounds of radiation to his leg and abdomen before proceeding with the 3F8 antibody, which cleared the cancer in his body. He stayed cancer free until February of 2009 when a very small Neuroblastoma tumor was found on his brain. A surgery was performed by Dr. Souweidane to remove the tumor and insert a port into Eli’s head so that another antibody called 8H9 could be administered to his brain and spine. After an additional 2 rounds of chemo and 17 rounds of full cranial and spine radiation, Eli went through the 8H9 treatment. 8H9 is a lot like 3F8, but geared specifically for the brain. Eli is currently NED (no evidence of disease) and continues to alternate between 3F8 treatment and low dose oral chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, due to all of the chemo and radiation that Eli went through to get rid of his Neuroblastoma, Eli developed secondary leukemia (AML). The plan to beat AML is to go through more chemo to get into remission at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, and then undergo a bone marrow transplant from a donor out of the national marrow donor program (www.bethematch.org) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. While in New York City, we are blessed to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House of NY, the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. The House holds 83 families and is at capacity nearly every night. Many of these families are here with a child with Neuroblastoma and have come from all over the world to be treated at Sloan. We have met countless friends in NYC and have a very special bond with many of the children and parents of the Ronald McDonald House. So while we miss our home in Iowa, we are thrilled to be getting great treatment in New York. We thank you for your prayers and if you would like a “Prayer Warrior in Eli’s Army” bracelet to wear or give to someone to be a daily reminder to pray for Eli, simply send an e-mail to bracelets@elihorn.com and you will immediately receive a reply with instructions on how to obtain a free bracelet.

You can follow this incredible boy on Facebook. Eli Horn. Peace to you too Lil Man!!!