Dell leads pediatric cancer fight

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Dell Children's Medical Center is pushing the medical envelope with a clinical trial of a revolutionary pediatric cancer treatment, and their first patient is a five-year-old Corpus Christi girl driven here by her mother once a week.

Brooke Hester stopped walking when she was three. Juvenile arthritis was suspected but then the family learned the truth, it was cancer.

"Your whole world collapses, just as your child," said Jessica Hester, Brooke's mother.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive and deadly nervous system tumor that hits children six years old and younger.  It accounts for one in seven pediatric cancer deaths.

For two years the Hester family sought treatment in New York and Michigan through the Neuroblastoma and Medullobastoma Translational Research Consortium. Then they heard about Dell's clinical trial.

Using new, Dell sponsored technology, doctors isolate on molecular targeted tumor samples. Genetic markers pinpoint the exact drugs needed.

"We're basically targeting the exact cancer cell with a very specific molecular targeted drug," said Dr. Sharon Lockhart, a Pediatric Oncologist at Dell. "It's a very exciting approach."

The Hester family is just happy they can get this kind of help closer to home.

"This hospital exists as a method of bringing us back to Texas. For the first time after 15 months gone. That's a long time," said Jessica.

Brooke is still Stage Four, but improving. During her visits she brings gifts like silk blossoms to the other cancer kids on the ward.

"She's doing great, she's a dynamo. She has adapted to this with great style and courage," said Dr. Lockhart.

"Her quality of life, being able to go home, having daddy time, has been huge," said Jessica.

Ask the patient how she's doing, Brooke replies, "Great, fantastic."

Brooke is enjoying pastimes again, saying, "My favorite thing to do is paint."

She also loves her cat, Tom.

"I like when they purr on your leg, and chase yarn balls."

Brooke will continue her experimental treatment, but now there is hope for her and her parents.