Reason to Rejoice

When Zed Rauch and his parents went to Disneyland in November 2009, they were there to celebrate. But the occasion wasn't a first visit to the Happiest Place On Earth, a birthday or even a typical anniversary—the trip marked five years of Zed being cancer-free. It’s a golden milestone for any family that’s battled childhood cancer, and its significance isn’t lost on Zed, who celebrates his ninth birthday this month.

“It means a lot to me,” says the third grader. “I know I am finally cured and I probably won't have cancer again.”

Zed now only visits his oncologist once a year, and to date, the only clear side effect of the chemotherapy he received in treatment is reduced hand strength, for which he receives occupational therapy. Still, Sandra Rauch clearly remembers the day her son was diagnosed. Zed was 3½ years old at the time and still potty training on the day he asked her, “Why is my pee-pee red?”

In fact, Zed's urine was blood-red. Sandra called her husband, Paul, and rushed their son to the pediatrician's office. After some tests, including an ultrasound of Zed’s kidneys, they were sent to radiology.

Sandra remembers how they piped the pediatrician’s voice into the exam room. “There’s no easy way to say this,” he told them. “Your child has cancer, and we need to get it out now.”

Zed had Wilms' tumor, the most common form of childhood kidney cancer. Within two days of his diagnosis, Zed underwent surgery to remove the affected kidney. The tumor, which measured the size of a man's fist, was encapsulated in the kidney and, luckily, had not spread.

“It was the best-case scenario in a really horrible situation,” says Sandra.

Zed tolerated 18 weeks of chemotherapy following his surgery as well as regular ultrasounds of the surgery site and the remaining kidney, and chest x-rays. “He was such a trooper the whole time,” his mom says.

The Disneyland trip was Paul and Sandra’s way of showing Zed how special he is to them, and of celebrating a milestone the whole family has looked forward to for a long time.