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Show Highland teen seeks financial aid after cancer tumor found in chest By RACHEL C. MURDOCH Audrey Norton had made plans (other 17th birthday - plans which included the family she loved, but left out surgery to remove her lung and a cancerous tumor - one so large, doctors decided it was unsafe to even attempt cutting it out. Audrey, the daughter of Larry and Lillian Norton of Highland, is a atadent at American Fork High School. 1 On Tuesday, April 11, she began to feel really ill, and her parents took her to American Fork Hospital for testing. Unable to find another reason for her problems, doctors said she might have rheumatic fever, fe-ver, and sent her home to rest. Her symptoms only became rse, and the next week, she went Jj Utah Valley Regional Medical wnter in Provo for further testing, w removing several quarts of tad from her chest cavity, doctors wspected something more serious. Family spokesperson and close nd RaeGean York said doctors On April 19, Audrey turned 17. At the same hour as Audrey went in for surgery on that day, Audrey's paternal grandfather went in the, same hospital for surgery to save' him from prostate cancer. His surgery sur-gery was successful. Audrey, however, how-ever, was not so lucky. "Instead of a tumor the size of a grapefruit, they found one the size of a football," said York. "It had completely filled her chest cavity and had even pushed her heart out of the way. It was so large, wherever the doctors tried to cut, she began hemorrhaging too much for them to continue." The surgery, scheduled to last many hours, took only 45 minutes. The doctors said the expensive radiation treatments are now Audrey's only hope. "I'vebeen a cancer patient, and it sounds impossible to me," said York. "But miracles have happened, hap-pened, and still can." York said fundraising efforts have started locally to help the family survive this difficult time. "She is critically ill," said York. "They kept her in the intensive care ...unit on a respirator for several days." Her mother moved into the room in a bed next to Audrey's, and the family is still there day and night. By Sunday, April 23, Audrey's condition had stabilized to serious rather than critical, and doctors began treatments which are her final hope. "The doctors are certainly hopeful hope-ful that his type of cancer will respond re-spond to these treatments," said York. "The specialists are working closely with her." Although she cannot receive visitors, visi-tors, Audrey does love cards or letters, let-ters, and is able to appreciate and enjoy them. York is setting up a fund for Audrey in the name of the Audrey Norton Cancer Fund. Any donations dona-tions can be sent to RaeGean York at 10786 North 6000 West in highland, high-land, 84023. Audrey Norton found a tumor. "They thought it might be about the size of a grapefruit, grape-fruit, and scheduled surgery on the 19th to take it out." |