Team Tessa
Donation protected
Tessa was officially diagnosed with High Grade Pleomorphic Sarcoma on June 10th, 2021. In the days and weeks before her diagnosis, Tessa could be found on the soccer field or hanging out with friends doing everything a 15 year old high school girl should be doing. Tessa is competitive, super funny, and always there for those close to her.
Her story began on May 27, 2021, when Tessa asked to have a lingering pain in her right side checked out. She had mentioned the pain on a few random occasions, but the fact that Tessa had been practicing daily with her high school soccer team and participating in both JV and varsity on game days, left none of them super concerned. However, with a day off from practice, they decided it was best to have Tessa checked out and headed to a local urgent care. Agreeing with the Sutton’s that it was likely nothing major, the clinician decided to go ahead and do a chest x-ray just to be sure. Unfortunately, the results were something we would all view as our greatest nightmare. Michelle and Tessa were told that some type of mass was showing up in the lower right side of Tessa’s lung. Unsure of what it might be, they were sent straight to the hospital to be directly admitted to the pediatric oncology unit for further testing and answers.
This led to a CT scan, a PET scan, a biopsy which resulted in the need for a chest tube, and ultimately, a 6 day hospital stay they never saw coming. As results from the tests came in, their fears were made a reality when the PET scan confirmed that the mass they had seen on the x-ray was indeed malignant and that there was also some suspected lymph node involvement. Thankfully, all other organs appeared to be okay. Once home, after waiting for what seemed like forever, Rich, Michelle, and Tessa finally met with the doctors at St. Jude on 6/10/21 to receive the official diagnosis and get information regarding the recommended treatment plan.
Needless to say, the treatment plan is very aggressive. Tessa started with her first round of chemo on 6/13/21. She had 3 days of inpatient chemo, which were already met with nausea and vomiting, and will continue to have that same regimen every 3 weeks for the next 25 weeks. In addition to that, starting the 4th week, she will also have 4 weeks of proton radiation which will be done in Memphis. The hope for all of this is to shrink the tumor as much as possible before undergoing surgery in order to remove the tumor entirely!!!
Many have asked how they can help make a financial contribution to the Sutton family to help them get through this unimaginably difficult time, and here’s your chance!! Our goal is to raise enough money for Rich and Michelle to be able to put all their focus on Tessa, without financial concerns weighing them down. Whether or not you are able to contribute financially at this time, we also ask that you keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
Her story began on May 27, 2021, when Tessa asked to have a lingering pain in her right side checked out. She had mentioned the pain on a few random occasions, but the fact that Tessa had been practicing daily with her high school soccer team and participating in both JV and varsity on game days, left none of them super concerned. However, with a day off from practice, they decided it was best to have Tessa checked out and headed to a local urgent care. Agreeing with the Sutton’s that it was likely nothing major, the clinician decided to go ahead and do a chest x-ray just to be sure. Unfortunately, the results were something we would all view as our greatest nightmare. Michelle and Tessa were told that some type of mass was showing up in the lower right side of Tessa’s lung. Unsure of what it might be, they were sent straight to the hospital to be directly admitted to the pediatric oncology unit for further testing and answers.
This led to a CT scan, a PET scan, a biopsy which resulted in the need for a chest tube, and ultimately, a 6 day hospital stay they never saw coming. As results from the tests came in, their fears were made a reality when the PET scan confirmed that the mass they had seen on the x-ray was indeed malignant and that there was also some suspected lymph node involvement. Thankfully, all other organs appeared to be okay. Once home, after waiting for what seemed like forever, Rich, Michelle, and Tessa finally met with the doctors at St. Jude on 6/10/21 to receive the official diagnosis and get information regarding the recommended treatment plan.
Needless to say, the treatment plan is very aggressive. Tessa started with her first round of chemo on 6/13/21. She had 3 days of inpatient chemo, which were already met with nausea and vomiting, and will continue to have that same regimen every 3 weeks for the next 25 weeks. In addition to that, starting the 4th week, she will also have 4 weeks of proton radiation which will be done in Memphis. The hope for all of this is to shrink the tumor as much as possible before undergoing surgery in order to remove the tumor entirely!!!
Many have asked how they can help make a financial contribution to the Sutton family to help them get through this unimaginably difficult time, and here’s your chance!! Our goal is to raise enough money for Rich and Michelle to be able to put all their focus on Tessa, without financial concerns weighing them down. Whether or not you are able to contribute financially at this time, we also ask that you keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Peter Cenek
Organizer
Kickapoo, IL
Michelle Sutton
Beneficiary