Grace Rosian Little American Girl With Down Syndrome Cured of Two Forms of Aggressive Leukemia Country: USA

Content:

1. Grace Rosian: A Triumph Over Leukemia
2. Birth and Rare Leukemia
3. Return of Leukemia and Aggressive Treatment
4. Overcoming Adversity
5. A Triumphant Homecoming
6. Raising Awareness
7. Down Syndrome and Leukemia Risk

Grace Rosian: A Triumph Over Leukemia

An Extraordinary Journey

Grace Rosian, a 17-month-old girl with Down syndrome, has miraculously emerged as a two-time leukemia survivor, inspiring awe among her medical team. Affectionately known as "Amazing Grace," she has fought valiantly against two aggressive forms of blood cancer.

Birth and Rare Leukemia

Born prematurely in October 2016, Grace was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia that affects less than 10% of infants with Down syndrome. She underwent chemotherapy treatment only two days after birth at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The treatment proved effective, and Grace was sent home at two months of age.

Return of Leukemia and Aggressive Treatment

However, less than a year later, leukemia returned in a more dangerous form known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With only a 26% five-year survival rate, Grace was readmitted to the hospital. For eight grueling months, "Amazing Grace" endured intense chemotherapy, including intrathecal chemotherapy, a highly painful procedure that involved administering drugs directly into her spinal cord.

Overcoming Adversity

Despite the immense physical and emotional challenges, Grace remained a beacon of resilience. "She always remained a happy baby, no matter what she was going through," said her mother, Valerie Rosian-Revell.

A Triumphant Homecoming

On March 21, 2018, International Down Syndrome Day, "Amazing Grace" was finally allowed to return home. "The day I found out I could bring my baby home, I felt like I could finally breathe again," Valerie said. "It was a happy feeling, but it was mixed with something a little weird because I had spent so much of my life with Grace in the hospital. When I brought Grace home, it felt right. I could finally be a mom. I could finally be a 100% mom."

Raising Awareness

Valerie Rosian-Revell continues to share their family's journey on her Facebook page, "Fight with Amazing Grace Rosian." Her goal is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, which receives only 4% of cancer research funding, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Down Syndrome and Leukemia Risk

Children with Down syndrome have a significantly higher risk of developing blood cancers. Research has linked this increased risk to an extra copy of the ERG gene, which is responsible for blood cell formation. Individuals with Down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21, which leads to an extra copy of the ERG gene. A study conducted at the Royal Melbourne Hospital has shown that reducing the number of functioning ERG genes from three to two could prevent the development of blood malignancies.

Strong-spirit

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