Carley Gilbert
By The Gilbert Family

Our journey with Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital began when our daughter Carley was 14 months old.  My husband and I were told by her pediatrician that a cat scan showed a mass about the size of a kiwi to the back of our baby's head.  We immediately made the choice to have her treated at Rainbow.  Less than 36 hours later she was in surgery with Dr. Cohen to remove a cancerous brain tumor.  I remember saying take good care of my baby before she went in.  Little did my husband and I realize how all the doctors, nurses and staff at Rainbow would take such great care of our baby thru the years.

We practically lived at Rainbow for much of the next two years as Carley underwent intensive chemotherapy.  Dr. Neider and his staff were essential in our fight against Carley's cancer.  Kathy Jacobson, Rainbow 2 Child Life Specialist, and all the nurses and staff on Rainbow 2 were also vital to Carley's fight.  They don't just heal the child, they heal the family.  At three-years-old, Carley's chemotherapy treatments ended and daily radiation treatments began for six weeks.  Carley had to be sedated for each treatment and we again were placing our trust in another Rainbow doctor, Anesthesiologist Dr. Tripi. 

We continued our journey with Rainbow over the years with periodic Oncology check-ups.  Carley suffered hearing loss due to the chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  At four-years-old, she started to wear hearing aids and we got to know Dr. Sprecher and the audiologists very well.  Carley was very comfortable with Dr. Sprecher when she later had to have her tonsils and adenoids out! 

A short time later, we discovered Carley had lost the remaining hearing she had and was eligible for a cochlear implant that would allow her to hear again.  It's been almost a year since that surgery and Carley is hearing fantastic thanks to Dr. Megerian and the Cochlear Implant Team.  She is so happy to hear, especially the birds, and does not like to be without her implant processor!

I can't forget about Dr. Amy Jeffrey who also plays a part in Carley's Rainbow family.  Carley had eye surgery May 2003 to address muscle damage also believed to be caused by her treatments.  What a blessing to hear "Mom, I don't see double anymore!"