hi, my name is

Natalie Biancone

I was born on May 17th, 2006, making me 15-years-old. I am a 10th grader at Conrad Weiser and play as the goalie for our field hockey team. I love my THON friends, but whom I love most, is my family. My house is always full with laughter and love. I have two amazing parents, Mary Ann and Michael, and three annoying (and amazing) siblings, Destiny, Ethan, and Savannah. Ethan recently went to college at West Virginia, so the house is a little bit more quieter. I know he secrelty misses us. Destiny is a senior at Conrad Weiser. She plays volleyball for the school and is part of mini-thon!

As for my story, it all began on Labor Day Weekend 2007 when I was just one. I am told by my parents that as a baby, I was usually polite and very easy going. However, when my family and I went to the beach that weekend, I was not acting as myslef. I was irritable, grumpy, not eating, and fussy. Dr. Anzalone suggested I go to the doctor’s office for a checkup. I had some other issues going on as well as having a fever of 102. They initially thought it was a viral infection and in fact, it did turn out to be a blood infection, but the odd blood count of her white blood cells prompted a second blood screening. That came back with results that could be Leukemia. That was September 12th, 2007…the family then took me to Hershey Medical Center that evening for admission into the Children’s Hospital. As I did have Leukemia (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and while that is the ‘better’ kind for children, my white blood cell count was high. Anything over 5,000 is considered high risk.  My counts were at 138,000! I was too small to take an IV- pick line in my shoulder and they tried 5 times in surgery to affix one to me and failed. I had a mediport put in, knowing that there was a good risk that it may be infected.  It was a calculated risk, as they had to get the medication in me to stop the cancer. I had numerous setbacks and complications. The blood infection wasn’t taken care of for eight months. I spent the first two weeks in the hospital and countless hours in the clinic and hospital. I would go home for a few days, and because of the blood infection and no immune system, I would get sick, spike a fever, and go right back to the hospital for a week. They could not get rid of the infections without removing the port, and they could not do that right away. My treatments over the next several months would include some very toxic medicines and have devastating effects on me. At one point my pain was so bad that I was on a constant Morphine Drip. By the time I turned 2, I finished the hardcore beginning treatments and was switched to “Maintenance” (lighter doses of chemo), which was much easier to take care of and handle. I went for spinal tap procedures every week, then every month, and finally every year. I was on “Maintenance” treatment from May 2008 until December 2009.  That would be my last dosage of chemotherapy. I had quite the journey, and through it, all have never really complained once. I faced many complications, all related to blood infections, and has had some really tough times during my journey to good health. I finished up my treatments officially on December 19th, 2009. After 6 years of checkups, I are VERY happy to announce that I am now more than 10 years Cancer FREE!!!

Support Me and My Family

If you would like to donate, be sure to donate under the general organizations and designate Berks Organization #77. Thank you!

Address

2080 Tulpehocken Road
Reading, PA 19610