Awwrgh! This is the kind of news I like to read and share! Twins diagnosed with cancer at birth, not only survived the terminal disease but are also healthy and celebrated their birthday last week!
According to People, eight years ago, Michigan parents Alissa and Michael Dunn got a double dose of terrible news when they learned their identical twins Madeline and Isabella were both born with a rare cancer – and that the cancer appeared to have been passed from one daughter to the other in the womb.
The Dunn girls, Isabella and Madeline, looked healthy at birth but just two months later their parents noticed Madeline’s stomach was starting to swell. They rushed to the paediatrician for their two-month check-up, People reported. Her enlarged stomach turned out to be a softball-sized tumour on her adrenal gland. Doctors examined Isabella as well, finding both twins had stage 4S Neuroblastoma, a very rare cancer found in children, typically under the age of one.
It appeared to grow in Madeline while she was a fetus, and it was then passed on to her sister, Dr. Jeffrey Taub, MD, FAAP of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan at the Detroit Medical Center tells PEOPLE.
Thankfully, the children survived the disease and are now cancer free. The twins celebrated their eight birthday over the Fourth of July weekend!
Their mother, Alissa told People that her girls are enrolled in gymnastics and will start second grade in fall. She also describe each of the girls saying Isabella is very caring and loving and Madeline is full of energy.
See a picture of the girls at birth:
Culled from People
