Three-year-old Josey Linsalata just reached the ultimate milestone at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital - ringing the end-of-treatment bell after beating Wilms tumor, the most common type of kidney cancer diagnosed in toddlers.
Josey is now cancer-free thanks to a life-saving chain of events that started when her older sister caught mononucleosis (mono) in May. At the time, the family pediatrician gave Josey’s parents a checklist of symptoms to watch for just in case she caught it too.
A few days later, Josey developed a fever and started complaining of belly pain. Back at the pediatrician, an abdominal exam revealed a large organ thought to be a swollen spleen, a classic sign of mono. But when Josey’s mono test came back negative, her doctor ordered additional blood work to find out what was really going on.
Those lab results raised immediate concerns, ultimately landing her at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital where further testing confirmed the true diagnosis- Wilms tumor.
Josey underwent surgery to remove the tumor followed by seven rounds of chemotherapy.
That journey is complete. Surrounded by her family, friends and care team, three-year-old Josey rang the bell to signal she is officially done with treatment. Then, she went bowling.
We wish Josey and her family the very best as she begins this healthy new chapter!
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