Haley Baxter

'Miss Hollywood' cancer-free with support from 'Haley's Angels'

When Haley Baxter's mom started calling her "Miss Hollywood" because of her love of the limelight, they had no idea how well the name would come to fit. Haley, now 13, is an 8th grade student, a cheerleader and a cancer survivor.

 

Not just stomach trouble

During her 2004 holiday vacation, Haley began throwing up repeatedly, but had no fever. Her mother, a nurse, suspected an intestinal blockage and took her to their pediatrician.

While other people were ringing in the New Year, Haley was preparing for surgery at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, California. She had a mass removed from her abdomen - a six-pound tumor the size of a volleyball. The lab confirmed what her doctors suspected, that it was a "germinoma," an ovarian germ cell cancer.

With humor and optimism, Haley dubbed her surgeon, Craig T. Albanese, M.D., "Doc Hollywood" and wrote in her online journal, "Doc Hollywood (Dr. Albanese) is pretty cute, huh?!!! Lucky me!"

Haley's family, friends and classmates rallied around her with "Haley's Angels" wristbands. Since Haley had no cast to sign, her visitors signed a souvenir volleyball.

 

The chemo shuffle

In the months to follow, Haley had four courses of chemotherapy. "Two steps forward and one step back" is how Haley's Aunt Susan characterized the "chemo shuffle" in Haley's online journal. Haley took the chemo well, with no nausea, but developed setbacks such as mouth sores and dehydration. On several occasions, Haley received blood transfusions to treat post-treatment anemia.

Support continued to pour in from family, friends and the community. Haley's 10-year-old brother, Ty, shaved his head in solidarity with Haley, who was losing her hair. The staff at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, where Haley's mom and step-dad work, held a fund-raiser at which more than 20 people shaved their heads to support Haley. Local TV stations came to cover the event.

Throughout her chemo, Haley stayed as active as she could. In March, she modeled spring fashions in the American Cancer Society "Celebration of Life" fashion show fund-raiser. While many women wore wigs, Haley chose to model "au naturale."

 

More surgery leads to success

Further tests revealed that Haley had not one, but two forms of ovarian cancer: the fast-growing tumor that was removed in January and a slow-growing form that required an additional surgery.

On June 1, six months after her ordeal began, her doctors declared Haley cancer free.

 

Survivor celebrity

It was an unforgettable summer for "Miss Hollywood." Haley was a guest on the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Telethon, and the station also showed a video about her cancer experience.

Haley had the honor of releasing balloons and shooting the starter gun at a charity golf tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. A few days later, Haley was featured on the radio as part of a "radiothon" for the American Cancer Society.

Haley and her family were heavily involved in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Salinas, the largest relay in California and the second largest in the U.S. Haley cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony and led the procession for the survivor lap that kicked off the relay. By the close of the event, the "Haley's Angels" team numbered about 30 people and had raised nearly $10,000 for the cause.

In interviews with the local newspaper and TV stations, Haley and her mom talked about the amazing love and support they had received during Haley's bout with cancer, and how the relay was a chance to give something back.

Haley topped the summer off with a dream come true: The Make A Wish Foundation sent Haley and her family to Atlantis resort in the Bahamas to swim with the dolphins.

 

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