Scottie Smith's Story
On September 14, 2021, after months of doctor appointments and 2 trips to the hospital, Scottie Smith was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of pediatric cancer.
Doctors at Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, MS found a tumor on her adrenal gland and immediately began making plans to treat her cancer. Dusty & Janie Smith, both born and raised in Houston, TX, quickly decided to pursue treatment for Scottie at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their whole family made the long drive from Mississippi to Houston and Scottie was seen by Dr. Douglas Harrison at MD Anderson Children’s Hospital within 48 hours of her diagnosis.
The first couple of weeks were an emotional whirlwind of scans, testing, and waiting. Scottie, Dusty, and Janie spent almost every day at MD Anderson trying to determine the extent and severity of Scottie’s cancer. The process was incredibly taxing as the family had to wait and wonder what would come next. Two weeks later, Scottie endured an 8-hour surgery to remove her tumor. Dr. Mary Austin successfully removed Scottie’s tumor with no damage to her organs or blood vessels. Scottie recovered in the hospital for 7 days and was then sent home to wait on test results that would determine her next steps for treatment.
The Smiths endured an agonizing five-week wait to hear back on the tumor genetics. Depending on her prognosis, Scottie’s next steps ranged from an observation protocol to 18 months of chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants, and immunotherapy. Thankfully, the tumor genetics revealed that Scottie didn’t require any further treatment at that time. Instead she began a 5-year observation protocol — she will continue to be monitored every 3 months to ensure that the cancer does not return.
Many neuroblastoma patients face years of grueling treatment following their diagnosis, so the Smiths consider themselves incredibly fortunate. The specialized care they receive at MD Anderson has helped Scottie continue to thrive as a happy, playful 3-year old. Although they recognize that Scottie’s cancer journey is far from over, the Smiths are passionate about raising awareness of pediatric cancer and they hope to support the amazing work of MD Anderson, the nation’s top cancer hospital.
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