Allyson Tebin, Schuylkill Haven
At 7 years old, Allyson Tebin, of Schuylkill Haven, had lingering flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain and difficulty swallowing. Antibiotics did not relieve any of her symptoms, prompting tests at her local community hospital. A CT scan showed fluid around Allyson’s heart and lungs and masses on her trachea and kidneys. She was admitted to Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and placed under the care of pediatric hematology/oncology specialists.Further testing revealed that Allyson was suffering from T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. She had more than two years of treatment, which included 10 surgeries, 27 spinal taps, 10 infusions of blood products and 155 trips back to the children’s hospital. Now 10, she has been in remission for more than a year and is enjoying time in school and with her friends.
Donations to Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger have helped support Camp Dost, a program of the Ronald McDonald House of Danville. Donations also support the Child Life Services, which provided activities and distractions for Allyson during her many long hospital stays.
