A mother copes with young son's diagnosis
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on March 17, 2017 1:07 PM
Full Size
Submitted photo
Five-year-old Reid Martin plays with toys during a hospital stay at Duke Children’s Hospital, where he has been treated for an aggressive brain tumor diagnosed in early February. In the time since he has had four brain surgeries and is slated to have chemotherapy and radiation.
Full Size
Submitted photo
Tiffany Martin, center, is the mother of two, Josiah, 11, right, and Reid, who spent his fifth birthday in the hospital Feb. 10 shortly after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. He has had four brain surgeries in the weeks since and is slated to have chemotherapy and radiation.
At the end of January, Tiffany Martin's youngest son, Reid, wasn't feeling well. He had no appetite and some nausea and vomiting but when she sought medical attention all signs pointed to whatever bug was going around.
When he didn't bounce back after a couple days and there was concern about dehydration, Goldsboro Pediatrics admitted him to the hospital to push fluids.
"One symptom is that he complained of his head. The pediatrician came in and I said, 'You know, he's complaining about his head. Something just seems a little off,'" Ms. Martin said.
A CT scan was done.
When the doctor later returned, Ms. Martin was not prepared for what she heard.
"She pulled me to the side and basically gave me the results -- 'It's not good. It's a brain tumor,'" she said. "I said, 'What?' Not what I expected at all.
"From there in a matter of about 45 minutes we were in a helicopter to Duke because obviously they needed to get him to where they could treat him."
The diagnosis came Feb. 1 -- non germinoma germ cell tumor or "yolk sac tumor."
Read the full story in Sunday's issue of the News-Argus.