Kezia Fitzgerald and her daughter Saoirse were diagnosed with different cancers less than six months apart.
A family's fight against cancer —
Kezia Fitzgerald and her daughter Saoirse were diagnosed with different cancers less than six months apart.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
During her pregnancy in 2010, Kezia noticed swollen lymph nodes in her neck. Several months after she gave birth, doctors told her she had stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cancer had spread to her chest, neck and abdomen.
A family's fight against cancer —
During her pregnancy in 2010, Kezia noticed swollen lymph nodes in her neck. Several months after she gave birth, doctors told her she had stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cancer had spread to her chest, neck and abdomen.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
In April 2011, Saoirse's parents noticed she had two black eyes. She was also cranky and vomiting. Doctors later found a neuroblastoma tumor in the toddler's abdomen. Her cancer was stage four.
A family's fight against cancer —
In April 2011, Saoirse's parents noticed she had two black eyes. She was also cranky and vomiting. Doctors later found a neuroblastoma tumor in the toddler's abdomen. Her cancer was stage four.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
Mother and daughter underwent treatment together. Cancer didn't slow Saoirse down much. She loved to read books, color and wander the halls of Boston's Children's Hospital.
A family's fight against cancer —
Mother and daughter underwent treatment together. Cancer didn't slow Saoirse down much. She loved to read books, color and wander the halls of Boston's Children's Hospital.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
The catheter doctors inserted into Saoirse's arm to administer treatment kept getting in the way. The toddler loved to play with them, and the medical tape used to secure them gave her a rash.
A family's fight against cancer —
The catheter doctors inserted into Saoirse's arm to administer treatment kept getting in the way. The toddler loved to play with them, and the medical tape used to secure them gave her a rash.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
One night Kezia went home, dug out her sewing machine, grabbed some cotton knit fabric and created a sleeve that would hopefully secure Saoirse's PICC line comfortably. A few weeks later, when a doctor inserted a central chest line, Kezia created a chest wrap for the toddler.
A family's fight against cancer —
One night Kezia went home, dug out her sewing machine, grabbed some cotton knit fabric and created a sleeve that would hopefully secure Saoirse's PICC line comfortably. A few weeks later, when a doctor inserted a central chest line, Kezia created a chest wrap for the toddler.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
"Kezia would have much rather designed and sewed something else besides the wraps," Mike Fitzgerald said. "But she did what she had to do to help our child. It worked, and we solved a problem."
A family's fight against cancer —
"Kezia would have much rather designed and sewed something else besides the wraps," Mike Fitzgerald said. "But she did what she had to do to help our child. It worked, and we solved a problem."
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
Kezia's cancer went into remission in September 2011. Saoirse passed away a few months later.
A family's fight against cancer —
Kezia's cancer went into remission in September 2011. Saoirse passed away a few months later.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs
Mike and Kezia have started a company called CareAline Products to sell the wraps Kezia created. They hope to honor their daughter's memory by helping other patients.
A family's fight against cancer —
Mike and Kezia have started a company called CareAline Products to sell the wraps Kezia created. They hope to honor their daughter's memory by helping other patients.
Courtesy Erik Jacobs