Giving thanks: The Crock family
By Ashley Hill, ahill@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
Almost every child loves a parade, a visit to the zoo, and a chance to play at the McDonald's PlayPlace, but Desni Crock's 3-year-old daughter, Bridget, wasn't able to do any of those things.
Bridget was diagnosed with a rare childhood chest tumor known as pleuropulmonary blastoma or "PPB" in October 2008.
It all began in March 2008 when doctors misdiagnosed Bridget with pneumonia. But after five surgeries and more than 50 X-ray's, it was determined that she was afflicted with the rare condition. According to the Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Registry's Web site, www.ppbregistry.org, only 10 to 20 cases occur per year in the United States.
"Bridget is only number 288 of a research group that was started in the '70s," said Crock.
Crock, her husband Bob, Bridget, and Bridget's baby sister Anna live in Marietta. One of Bridget's lungs was surgically removed in January, she received her last chemotherapy treatment in July, and she is now cancer free. Anna was born on April 29, at which point Crock's life became rather hectic.
"It was ok while the baby was inside of me, but then it got real challenging once I had Anna because we had a couple of months where we had a newborn at home who was breastfeeding and I had to be at the hospital with Bridget," she said.
Crock said she and her husband would have struggled to get through the ordeal if not for the help they received. Multiple fund-raising events were held for Bridget, including a few that Crock and her husband were not aware of until a check was handed to them after the benefits took place. The couple also received many greeting cards and gift cards, and many people stepped forward to babysit Anna while Desni and Bob were tending to Bridget.
"Without the loving support of family, friends, and the community, we would be homeless, car-less and hungry."
Crock also credited Bob for his help.
"Statistics show that when you go through this with an ill child, marriages break up-but ours got stronger," she said. "He's taken on a huge role trying to keep the family afloat and I couldn't have done it without him."
These days, Bridget is trying to catch up on all the fun things she missed out on, like parades, visits to the zoo, and playtime at the McDonald's PlayPlace.
Crock said she could fill the whole newspaper with things she is thankful for, but she is particularly thankful for Bridget's recovery, the birth of Anna, and the support and love that her family, friends, and community have shown.
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armybrat
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11-26-09 7:21 PM
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I am happy to hear a story like Bridget's. This family has so much to be thankful for.
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