James

When it comes to describing the challenges that life has thrown at 5-year-old James Mejia, the old saying about a kitchen sink comes to mind.

First, he was born prematurely at just 24 weeks. He spent the first four months of his life under the watchful eyes of the expert care team at Children’s Hospital Central California’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). While there, the not-quite ready- for-the-world infant had one surgery on his eyes and another to help him breathe without a respirator.

Finally, he was well enough to go home, albeit with the help of an oxygen monitor. For two years, James progressed normally, getting bigger and stronger.

Then came the big blow.

The toddler had a nasty cough. He wouldn’t eat. He couldn’t go to the bathroom. His stomach was swollen and hard. An MRI revealed the worst –hepatoblastoma –a form of liver cancer found in children. It’s highly treatable if caught early enough. Unfortunately, James’ cancer was advanced.

“It was stage IV, the worst,” says his mom Wendy. “We were in tears. After all we’d been through, then to go through this? All we could do was pray and hope for a miracle.”

That miracle was waiting for them at a familiar place –Children’s Hospital
Central California.

In July 2005, James began an aggressive routine of chemotherapy and antibiotics under the care of pediatric oncologist John Gates, III, MD and the cancer team in the hospital’s Starship Craycroft inpatient unit. Ultimately, doctors decided that a liver transplant gave James his best shot at survival.

His name was put on the transplant waiting list, and the family waited for a call. In January 2006, they got it. They headed to the Bay Area for the transplant. Seven hours into the surgery, the procedure was aborted. James’s insides were too infected. He would not survive the surgery if they continued.

The Mejias were devastated.

“We were on eggshells waiting for the phone to ring about the transplant,” says Wendy. “Then we found out they couldn’t do it.
It was one thing after another. After the transplant surgery they told us to enjoy him as much as we could, because he wouldn’t be around much longer. It’s been three years and he’s still here.”

The news from up north didn’t dash anyone’s hopes at Children’s. James refused to give up, and so did Dr. Gates. A year of aggressive chemo and experimental treatment followed. The calculated care had good results. James started to get better. Through a few random setbacks (he suffered a broken leg and then a fractured collarbone playing with his brothers, both treated at Children’s) James moved forward toward a better life.

The tough young man’s chemotherapy treatment ended in December 2006. The tumor has stopped growing. For the first time in his life, James is healthy.

“They’re not saying he’s in complete remission, more like temporary remission,” says Wendy.

Today, the active boy stays busy by playing with his brothers Junior, 12, and John, 11, and following his favorite monster truck drivers. He’ll start kindergarten in the fall. He will continue to visit Children’s Hospital routinely for check-ups. After all he’s been through, you’d think he’d be tired of the hospital experience. “Not so,” says his mom.

“The nurses at Children’s spoil him rotten,” she says. “He has girlfriends over there. Anything he wants, he gets.”

Journey Sponsored by Bill & Linda Smittcamp and Family
Adventure Sponsored by Jeff & Melanie Mayer