Local family seeks hope for toddler battling cancer

To the people who know and love her, Brooke Cayton is a blessing. At two years old, the blonde-haired toddler is like other children her age in many ways. She loves her dolls and toys and keeping up with her big sister, 4-year-old Emily.

But days that should be filled to the brim with carefree play and a world of pretend are instead packed with doctor’s appointments, chemo treatments and medications.
Brooke was diagnosed with a brain tumor more than a year ago. A benefit fund-raiser for her is planned for next month.

Brooke’s health ordeal began when she was 8 months old. Her mother, Rebecca Cayton, said that’s when she consulted Brooke’s pediatrician about the child’s eyes being crossed. Brooke was then referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist, who diagnosed her with farsightedness and prescribed her glasses.

Rebecca said she took her daughter for a three-month checkup, where the doctor recommended an MRI because of Brooke’s eyes jiggling. The MRI took place on a Friday. The following Monday, Rebecca found herself in a neurosurgeon’s office, being told that Brooke had a pilocytic astrocutoma, a slow-growing tumor, on her optic nerve. Surgery was performed to remove part of the tumor, but couldn’t remove all of it because to do so would have left Brooke blind. Swelling around her pituitary gland has left Brooke with diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism.

Rebecca said her daughter’s doctors are treating her with chemotherapy and are hoping to keep the tumor from growing. She said she tries hard to not think too much about the future and the possibility that the chemo may not always work.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” she said.

An MRI scheduled for Dec. 11 should show whether the tumor has grown.

Caring for a sick child on a day-to-day basis comes with its struggles, but Rebecca takes it in stride. Doctors’ offices and medications have become a routine for the family. Rebecca said Brooke used to fight taking her diabetes medicine, which is administered through her nose.

“She’s gotten a lot better with it,” Rebecca said. “I guess she’s just used to it by now.”

Big sister Emily has gotten accustomed to the routine as well.

“Her hair’s gonna fall out,” she says matter-of-factly as she touches Brooke’s fine blonde strands.

Before she got sick, Brooke attended Woodmont Child Development Center with her sister. When the parents of some of the other children there heard about Brooke’s illness and what her family has been through while caring for her, they wanted to help.

On Dec. 12, a gospel benefit will be held in Brooke’s honor. Entitled “A Blessing for Brooke,” the event will feature performers Mercy’s Promise, Sheila Daniels, Leah Ward, Spiritual Echoes, Amanda Paschal and dancers from Melanie Paschal’s Dance Creations. The event will be hosted by Dave Compton and begins at 6 p.m. in the Reidsville High School Auditorium.

“We just wanted to do something,” said event organizer Stephanie Rothe.

Rothe said admission to the event is free and love offerings will be accepted. She said the purpose of the benefit is to spread the word of Brooke’s fight.
A trust fund has also been set up in Brooke’s honor. Donations can be made to Reidsville Free Will Baptist Church c/o Sheila Daniels, PO Box 313, Reidsville, NC, 27323.

For more information, e-mail .