Anastasia Sonia Madimenos

Born July 16^th, 2007, Anastasia Sonia Madimenos weighed 6 lbs, 4 oz., and was 19 inches long.  Her proud parents were able to take their healthy newborn home, after just two days. 

Anastasia was just like any other newborn.  She had big beautiful brown eyes and loved to smile and laugh.  A day short of her 4 month-old birthday, November 15^th, 2007, Anastasia developed what appeared to be an ear infection.  Sometime between early November and the onset of the ear infection, her parents noticed that their smiley,big brown eyed girl turned pale, smiled less frequently, and her eyes began to change.  Subsequently, the eye change was explained as Anastasia was diagnosed with conjunctivitis.  Two days later the ear infection recurred.  On December 7^th, Anastasia was still not herself and once again visited the pediatrician who performed a complete blood count.  The next day, her parents were given the heartbreaking news that the preliminary reports were suggestive of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). 

AML is an aggressive form of leukemia, in which too many immature blood-forming cells are found in the blood and bone marrow, resulting in an interference with the production of normal blood cells. Once the normal bone marrow is replaced with rapidly growing and an uncontrolled growth of leukemic cells, one is susceptible to infection, anemia, and spontaneous bleeding.

Her parents immediately rushed Anastasia from the pediatrician’s office to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at NY Presbyterian Hospital, where further tests confirmed this rare form of leukemia in infants. That same day, Anastasia began aggressive chemotherapy designed to cure the disease and achieve remission. Anastasia remained in critical condition until December 14^th,2007, when she was released from ICU and admitted to the Pediatric Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  Anastasia was finally released from the hospital on January 9^th, 2008. 

Anastasia continues to be treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering where doctors and medical staff diligently work to cure Anastasia of this disease.

Family, friends, and loved ones of Anastasia ask you to continue to keep Anastasia in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.