Kindness buoys sick McHenry Co. girl's family
In a joyful respite from the medical woes coloring her world before another surgery today, Taylor Radtke swam a full pool length for the first time this week.
When she finished, she jumped up and down and called to her mom: "Did you see that, Mom? Did you see?"
"I had tears running down my face," Laurie Radtke said from Phoenix on Wednesday. "That was like unbelievable that she could do that. It's like she won the gold. I could have been Michael Phelps' mom."
She laughed. It was a moment to treasure at a time when the Johnsburg family has found little joy.
The Radtkes are back in Phoenix because a brain tumor again threatens harm to the Johnsburg girl who captured the heart of a region in her first battle against an "inoperable" tumor in fall 2007.
This time there are at least two tumors, but doctors must first manage the sinus problems and possible infection of the mastoid bones.
Taylor, 9, a little girl her mother has dubbed "an angel wearing combat boots," will go into the first surgery of this round at 10:15 a.m. today.
As they face another difficult journey, Laurie said they have been buoyed by the outpouring of support from strangers, friends and family.
"It's amazing ... amazing," Laurie said after dozens of people reached out since Sunday's article detailed Taylor's plight.
In addition to cards and letters from throughout the Northwest suburbs, several people have offered to help with the pricey rental car and places to stay should this visit extend past three weeks.
A Kildeer man contacted the family through the Lake Zurich Fire Department, where Jeff Radtke is a fire captain, and picked up the car tab, which was reduced after the rental firm became aware of the situation.
The generosity and kindness have been overwhelming, Laurie said.
"Thank you so much - we're praying for all of you right back," she said.
Wednesday was less difficult than expected since doctors did not have to put Taylor under anesthesia as previous brain scans have required. Providing extra hope, the family learned the Children's Memorial Hospital doctor, who initially discovered the first tumors on a scan and also spotted the most recent woes, has moved to Phoenix and will continue to work on Taylor's case.
The scan will guide doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital who will do the first surgery, delving into the sinus cavities and, if necessary, removing the mastoid bones, replacing them with prosthetics.
If all goes well, it will be the first of at least two surgeries with Dr. Robert Spetzler expected to remove the tumors at the Barrow Neurological Institute, where they successfully removed the original tumor in 2007.
They are frightened, Laurie said, but confident they're where they need to be. As she's told Taylor's little brother, Blake: "As long as we believe in the doctors and we pray, then we're going to be OK."
Knowing so many are keeping her little girl in their thoughts and prayers has truly touched them all, Laurie added. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you so much."
Buoys: Surgery scheduled for this morning