When Marissa Wheeler noticed a ‘sudden change’ in her two-year-old daughter, Adalae, she had a harrowing feeling that something was seriously wrong.
The once bubbly toddler became lethargic, wanted to be held constantly and wasn’t interested in playing.
The youngster also started complaining of stomach pain, so Wheeler, 31, from Vernal, Utah, took her to the hospital.
While Wheeler worried it was something serious, doctors completely brushed off her fears and insisted Adalae was suffering from strep throat.
They were given antibiotics and sent home – but it didn’t sit right with Wheeler.
She followed her instincts and took Adalae to another hospital, where they learned she had a ‘very large’ mass in her abdomen that had ruptured.
She was ultimately diagnosed with a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.
Now, Wheeler has laid bare her daughter’s terrifying health journey while issuing a stark reminder to other parents.
Marissa Wheeler and her daughter Adalae, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma
The once bubbly toddler suddenly became lethargic, wanted to be held constantly and wasn’t interested in playing
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wheeler described her daughter as ‘the happiest little girl.’
‘She has the biggest personality and makes friends everywhere she goes,’ the mother said. ‘She is funny, stubborn, independent and full of energy.
‘She loves being outside, playing with her siblings, and making everyone laugh. She is the baby of our family and completely adored by all of us.’
Wheeler first noticed Adalae ‘wasn’t acting like herself’ on May 25. In addition to her sudden fatigue, she also showed little interest in eating or drinking, and started complaining of stomach pain.
The pain was so bad she would ‘start crying when we went over bumps in the car,’ Wheeler recalled.
‘Something felt off. The change happened pretty quickly and was very unlike her normal energetic personality.’
Wheeler ultimately decided to bring the toddler to Urgent Care, where a doctor told her Adalae was likely suffering from appendicitis. They recommended she go to the hospital.
‘Once we got to the emergency room, the doctor brushed past my appendicitis concerns and did a viral panel and strep test,’ Wheeler said.
Adalae had surgery to remove the tumor in her stomach and is now undergoing chemotherapy
‘The strep test was positive so they gave us antibiotics and sent us home. We went home, but deep in my gut I was still concerned. Strep didn’t explain some of her other symptoms.’
After 48 hours, Adalae hadn’t shown any improvement, so Wheeler took her back to the ER.
This time, she said she decided to go to a different hospital, where they ‘took her concerns more seriously.’
‘They did an ultrasound and CT scan,’ she said. ‘Within an hour of us being there they discovered she had a very large mass filling her whole abdomen, and the mass had ruptured so she was bleeding internally.’
Adalae was then diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma, a ‘rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in soft tissue,’ per Mayo Clinic.
‘Hearing the word “cancer” attached to your child is impossible to describe,’ Wheeler told the Daily Mail.
‘Everything around me seemed to stop. One minute we were living our normal lives, and the next we were trying to process a diagnosis that completely changed our world. Cancer was never something I imagined my child would have.
‘It was devastating. As a parent, you always want to be the one carrying the pain for your child.
‘Knowing there was nothing I could do to take it away was heartbreaking. There were so many emotions at once: fear, grief, shock and uncertainty about what the future would look like.’
The toddler has received scans and procedures to eliminate the cancer
Wheeler has been documenting Adalae’s journey on social media to help other families who may be going through something similar
Adalae had surgery to remove the tumor in her stomach and is now undergoing chemotherapy.
‘She has been incredibly brave through everything. There have been difficult days, but she continues to amaze us with her strength and resilience,’ Wheeler added.
‘We were scared that we would lose her fun, playful personality, but she is still running around with her brothers and sister jumping on the trampoline and running through sprinklers.
‘We are taking things one day at a time and trusting her medical team. While her diagnosis is serious, we put our full trust in god that he can heal her.’
Wheeler, who has been documenting Adalae’s journey on social media, reminded other parents to always ‘trust their instincts’ if they feel something is not right with their child.
‘No one knows your child better than you do,’ she said. ‘If something feels wrong, keep asking questions and keep advocating for your child.
‘I also hope our story reminds people that childhood cancer exists and can happen to any family. Life can change in an instant.
‘Hug your kids a little tighter, don’t take the ordinary moments for granted, and support families who are walking through difficult seasons because you never know when it could be your turn to need that support.’
