Courtney Silha is a single mother who recently graduated from Moraine Valley Community College while earning certificates in medical billing and coding. Two years ago, Courtney heard the words no parent wants to hear when she was told her only child, son Liam who was then six years old, had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Liam’s treatments at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood have been made easier thanks to his frequent visits to the Treasure Chest. POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel recently sat down with Courtney to gain insight into the experiences of this brave pair.

POTCF: Can you tell me about the time when Liam was diagnosed?

Courtney: It was the worst day of my life. The morning we were told, I was basically just waiting for confirmation. But that didn’t make hearing it any easier. It was a whirlwind of doctors, nurses, labs, planning surgery, learning about his cancer and its treatments. It was a lot to take in all at once, but I truly believe we have the best team. They are amazing at walking you through each part of the process and answering all of your questions. 

POTCF: How was Liam’s cancer initially detected?

Courtney: About a week prior to his diagnosis, Liam’s stomach was very distended and for about a month, he was continually wetting the bed. I was trying to correct it by taking away his water bottle at night, making sure he went to the bathroom before bed, etc.—all to no avail. Liam currently sees my former pediatrician, who is an extraordinary doctor. He felt a mass that he said was too high up to be stool so he was getting concerned. He immediately sent us to get an x-ray and stayed after the office had closed to go over the results with me. While I find that kind of care incredible, it seriously was concerning that he was going to such lengths to go over this x-ray. When he was unable to see exactly what the problem was, he sent us for a CT scan the next day. He had his staff on the phone with my insurance company that morning to make sure the CT scan would be approved—which it was. He called me on his day off to tell me he had seen the CT scan results and that Liam was being admitted that night. The next morning was when we got the news.

POTCF: What type of treatment did Liam go through?

Courtney: Liam’s protocol was for chemotherapy—no radiation. The clinical trial he is in is to determine whether a specific chemotherapy can help avoid radiation as part of the treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

POTCF: Can you tell me about the hospitalizations/clinic?

Courtney: To this day, the hospitalizations are something that Liam hates. He loves the nurses, he loves the playroom, but he cannot handle the fact that he is confined to the hospital/hospital room. It’s better when  he isn’t so sick and can at least wander the halls and play in the playroom. As for visits to the clinic, depending on where we are in treatment, Liam either tolerates or likes going there. The highlight of clinic visits for Liam is that he starts steroids that night. He also doesn’t mind getting his Lumbar Punctures (probably because he still doesn’t know what they are doing when he is sedated) because he enjoys the nap his “sleepy meds” give him.

POTCF: What is the worst part of Liam’s treatment?

Courtney: For Liam, the hardest part was always getting accessed. This was a struggle for nearly a year and a half. He would scream and kick and fight like his life depended on it. After some time, he started to get better with it and he was seeing how it only hurt for a few seconds and then the pain would go away.

POTCF: What is the best part, if there is a good part, of the clinic/hospital?

Courtney: Along with having such an amazing oncology team who we think of as family, the Treasure Chest makes it so much easier. Every time we go, Liam knows that at the end of all the icky and terrible, he has something fun and exciting to reward him.

POTCF: Can you tell me about the Treasure Chest at the hospital?

Courtney: Our child life specialist always knew the perfect gift for Liam! She was always aware of Liam’s struggle with port accessing, so she would have something ready that she had picked from the Chest and then she would hide it. As soon as the nurses were done with Liam, she would have the toy out for him to help cheer him up and it always worked! Without the Treasure Chest, those tears would have lasted much longer.

POTCF: Did knowing Liam would receive a toy or gift card help the hospital/clinic experience? 

Courtney: Absolutely! Liam’s choice depended on what type of treatment he was undergoing. When he was on steroids, he would usually want a gift card because he was ALWAYS hungry! The other times he would pick a toy or book. Each time we came in there was always something new in the Treasure Chest that would make him excited. He was always looking forward to the end of treatment to run over to the Chest!

POTCF: Has your relationship with friends and family changed? 

Courtney: It definitely has. I have lost a few friends along the way, which is okay. Whether you don’t care to take part in the journey, or if it is too much for you to handle, that’s okay. Cancer in any form is a hard road, but one my family and I have to endure. I am always so happy when people take the time to check in with us and see how we are doing. It’s a nice reminder that you have people in your corner.

POTCF: Someone told me (Colleen) that my son’s cancer treatment would change me for the better.  Has this changed you in any way?

Courtney: Absolutely. I have always considered myself to be a strong woman, but this definitely showed me how much I can handle and how capable I am. This has and will be the most challenging part of my life. I have an even more amazing relationship with my son because we walked through this disaster together. 

POTCF: What would you say to a family who just learned their son or daughter had been diagnosed with cancer?

Courtney: Take deep breaths! Take things one day at a time. Lean on your people—they are there to support you! Join mom groups to talk with other moms who can relate to what you are going through. 

POTCF: What would you say to the Treasure Chest Foundation contributors? Please elaborate on the importance of their continued contributions. 

Courtney: Without the Treasure Chest, I can honestly say that there are days I don’t know if we would have gotten through. Liam’s struggle with getting his port accessed was one for the books, but knowing that if he sat still for his nurse that he would get his chance to pick out something fun made all the difference. 

POTCF: Do you recall a particularly memorable time when Liam visited the Treasure Chest?

Courtney: I would say it was the first time Liam got to choose a toy from the Treasure Chest in the clinic. While he was given toys from the Treasure Chest Foundation during our initial hospital visit, when he realized he had a whole Chest to choose a toy from whenever we were at the clinic, you saw his eyes grow ten sizes! It made each visit a little more worthwhile for him, and it kept him distracted on our 45-minute car ride back home each time.