![]() ![]() At first this all came to me as a shock, I had no idea what “Leukemia” was and I was upset when I started seeing comments on social media saying I had cancer. I was diagnosed the first time, July 10, 2015, a week before I was going to my softball world series in Ocean City, Maryland with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Follow her journey on caringbridge under Natalie McMaster. The roller coaster continues and she currently is undergoing yet another round of chemo and still trying to make the most of her time. By June 2021 Natalie had many ups and downs as she graduated from high school and was accepted into Kutztown University but by the next month the leukemia was back. In March 2021 went back in for her second bone marrow transplant. After investigating other trials at NIH, it was found she wasn't a candidate because she had a tumor wrapped around the base of her spinal cord. She had bone lesions and biopsies and more treatment but still no leukemia in the bone marrow. At first the trial was going well but Natalie's body ended up rejecting the process. This was to help fight off leukemia lesions that were still present in her body even though she had no cells in her bone marrow. She spent the summer going back and forth between Maryland and Seattle for the trial. Since 2018, she went through a CAR-T trial in Seattle in June 2020. Saying : "The good thing is that we know what to expect, but the bad thing is that we know what to expect." It would be a long arduous journey once again. A punch to the gut in seeing this happen yet again after so much energy and pain was had going through the first round… her mom was quoted as ![]() To everyone’s greatest sorrow the cancer returned in december of 2018. She looked as if she had conquered the battle and was smarter and wiser for it. She went through treatments with grace and strength and even had some spotlight moments of returning to her sports teams and making some insane plays after ending treatment. She was stronger through all of this than most grown adults. Natalie had the most unbelievable positive attitude and will to live as she took on anything she needed to to handle the plan for eradicating the cancer. Natalie and her family had their lives changed forever.Īcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), which is the most common type found in children Natalie's age with a 80%-90% success rate in recovery. She experienced a rash from these transfusions and had to be pumped with Benadryl. She then got a red blood cell transfusion because of her counts. Her unbelievably positive attitude began immediately! One of the main results of the tests was that Natalie's blood platelet counts were very low. She selected University of Maryland Hospital. The doctors told her mom that she needed to select a hemoglobin oncologist… WHAT? They wanted Natalie in a children's hospital to get more tests done because they suspected something serious. She was taken to the hospital and while there, Natalie got a chest X-ray which was negative, but also got more blood tests that concerned FMH. In 2015, after having strep throat and the medications not working, Natalie’s doctor suggested getting some blood work done to look at it a little further. If you were not with us in 2019, here is a recap of how this began. She is with us on this journey and we want her back playing ball again. This year we honor Natalie on Day 1, and have a softball along with us that the team is going to sign. ![]() We have sent more supplies to help alleviate some of the pain, fatigue, and nausea. It has been a twist none of us wanted, but she is meeting it head on! Since then, her number's came back and she is now back in chemo. I got to meet with her parents as well, as they were packing the car for a girls Senior Week trip to Ocean City. Such maturity for a young woman, I had to race out to Frederick again, this time to hand her the Day Sign our team signed on the trek. Shannon sent her a cake and gift basket on behalf of Just In Power Kids, and Natalie was so gracious thanking us. I shared this photo on my Facebook page where tens of thousands fell in love! We were so happy with her progress. She popped out of the car to meet the team, and I my heart burst with joy! Then as the entire team rolled up behind me, the typical teenager blushed allowing all of the color to return to her face. I remember racing to the car window and seeing this sweet face. She had been in the hospital for 60 days, and then waited a few extra hours while we were delayed in a thunderstorm. We first got the see Natalie in person on Maryland Trek 6, when our team arrived in Baker Park. ![]()
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