Beloit girl, 5, celebrates as cancer in remission

BELOIT, Wis. — “It seemed like it was never going to end, but it did. Thank God.”

That’s what Payten Fobes’ mother, Nikki Gunn, said about her 5-year-old daughter’s remission from cancer. Her mother, father Shannon Fobes and sister Arianna, 11, gathered together Wednesday to share their story of triumph. Payten was munching on powdered sugar donuts, dancing to” Ku Fu Panda” and doing push-ups on the coffee table. She showcased her new Santa gifts in front of the family’s 8-foot-wide celebratory Christmas tree.

“What’s your favorite part of a hospital?” Payten joked. “Outside!”

“I always knew she would recover,” her mother said.

Payten will be attending Converse Elementary School’s kindergarten class in January. She will have another breathing treatment and physical exam, but doctors said Payten’s remission has defied the odds. The family wants to thank everyone who helped and prayed for Payten during the difficult year.

Nikki returned to her work as a waitress at the Liberty Inn in Beloit about two weeks ago, thanks to Payten’s remission. Payten has been a ball of energy and loves to feel the new fuzz on her head, which is on its way to becomes long locks once again.

“I want it brown and curly,” Payten said.

Payten was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in March. She was suffering from Wilm’s Tumor disease, a form of childhood cancer. She had started having a high fever, rashes, weight loss and more in February, but doctors sent her back home after being puzzled by her condition.

When Payten’s grandma, Betty Layton, also known as “Meemaw,” got access to a laptop ultrasound machine she found what appeared to be a tumor on her kidney. Her family took Payten to Milwaukee where doctors found nine tumors on the lungs, four in her spine and four on her kidneys.

Payten’s cancer had metastasized and spread to her lungs and spine. During the next seven months Payten would undergo four surgeries, chemotherapy, 11 pills a day. She was part of the Renal Tumors Classification Biology and Banking Study to receive some additional experimental drugs. During her painful ordeal she dropped from 50 pounds to 33.

Gunn had to stop work to focus on Payten. Her mother helped the family around the clock, and Payten’s aunt, Lyndsy Hammel of Madison, shaved her head to show support and came to lend a hand. Friends and family donated blood, held benefits and sent up prayers. Payten went to Disney World courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The community responded to help Payten in a big way in June during a special event held at the Marine Corps League. Nikki was happy to report that most of the medical bills had been covered, and the benefit at the Marine Corps League is said to be one of the most successful benefits held.

Over the seven-month bout with cancer, Payten would amass almost 400 beads of courage representing various treatments, procedures and milestones. The beads were strung on what has become a long and trailing necklace. Meanwhile, mother Nikki had to deal with news of a “fake granny,” who falsely claimed to be Payten’s grandmother in order to collect money. The incident still haunts the family.

Nikki said her daughter was horridly ill for months and the family had plenty of good cries over it. She credits her older daughter Arianna for staying strong and doing well in school during the difficult time.

But no matter what happened, Nikki never accepted the possibility of anything happening to her daughter.

“It wasn’t an option,” she said.

It was in early November when the family saw a dramatic turnaround. Although she was still undergoing chemotherapy, Payten started acting like herself again, her father said.

“I could just jog,” Payten said.

Shortly afterward, doctors said Payten was in remission. The family celebrated by redoing her bedroom in zebra prints and purchasing a massive Christmas tree that toppled over four times before being chained to the wall. Hundreds of Christmas cards were mailed out to thank everyone for their support.

Although Nikki said she isn’t a superstitious person, she’s still mulling over an incident that happened two weeks ago when her mother Betty Layton’s horse became suddenly ill. He had a tumor on the left kidney as well and died shortly thereafter. In some way, Nikki feels the tumor and all the pain had somehow left this world with that horse.

Payten’s grandma decided to give the 5-year-old an extra-special surprise on Christmas Eve. As Payten was riding in with her family, she spotted a pony with a Santa hat and bow awaiting her.

“I thought it was an elephant!” she said.

As soon as Payten took the lead, the pony named Jingles gave her a little kiss on the cheek.

“He’s mine already,” Payten said.