Andrew "Drew" Trey Goodman
Diagnosed March 2004 at age 4
Adult form of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Drew is the youngest of 6 children. He has always been a very active, "normal" boy. He loves God, his family, friends, Power Rangers, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Aladdin.
In March 2004, Drew complained of headaches and projectile vomited for no. There were no other symptoms or problems, and it didn't happen every day. The pediatrician first said it was a virus. Drew did not get better, but worse in a matter of days, the doctor ordered a cat scan of the sinus cavity.
The cat scan was scheduled for 4/22/04 at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Drew was very sick, vomiting and very lethargic, we insisted that the technician give us the results of the scan or we would not leave. They told us there were no problems found with the sinus cavity.
We called the pediatrician's office and explained the situation and gave them the results of the CT scan. We were instructed to come to the office, they agreed he was very sick and ordered a whole head CT scan with and without contrast, Spinal tap and blood work.
The first test they ran was a CT scan, we were allowed to be present. We knew right away that something was wrong by the way the medical team was acting. We were told that the CT scan showed a brain tumor. They told us he would be transferred to MCV/VCU Hospital. We drove to MCV/VCU Hospital and he was admitted to PICU that night. An MRI was set up for the next day. The MRI revealed a large mass in the left frontal and temporal lobes. Surgery was scheduled for April 28, 2004. The tumor was not responding to the steroids and Drew was getting very sick.
The surgery was moved to April 26, 2004. Surgery took 3 ½ hours and 98% of the tumor was removed. Drew recovered quickly and was released on April 29, 2004. On April 30, the pathology report confirmed that the tumor was a Glioblastoma Multiforme. This is a very aggressive, adult brain tumor.
After researching the options, Drew was entered into Clinical Trial #ACBF0126 - Phase III. This includes 33 radiation treatments, 42 days of Temador (chemotherapy) with 10 more rounds of 5 days on and 23 days off at a higher dosage.
Since then, he has shown little deficits. There is some right side weakness and movement loss, but most of it has returned. On April 26, 2005, Drew completed the last round of chemo required for theclinical trial. May 23, 2005, Drew completed the clinical trial. The MRI on May 23, showed no tumor. Drew is considered clean. A Glioblastoma Multiforme tumor is completely unpredictable and very aggressive. Therefore, Drew is facing a lifelong fight.
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I hope to see him again some time.
Richard Harvey