Edwin Burnett - “Close Ties”

Edwin Burnett, Southport, NC

"Children are so resilient that it is hard to know when they are sick, because they don’t act sick," says Carolyn Burnett of Southport. On a family trip, her two-year old son, Edwin, developed bruises and red spots, but was acting fine. She wasn’t worried until a trip to the park. "Edwin was coming down the little slide and when he rushed into my arms and his face came to my chest, the little medallion I was wearing left its imprint on his forehead and I said, "Oh, dear, something is terribly wrong here."

The next day after a visit to his pediatrician, Edwin was rushed to UNC with swelling organs and a white blood count of 87,000. Stuart Gold, professor of pediatrics in the Pediatric Oncology division, started treatment immediately. Gold is principal investigator for the Children’s Study Group which offers clinical trials to pediatric patients. After trying different types of chemotherapy over three years, Edwin’s leukemia responded to several experimental drugs, and his blood counts are now fine.

Flash forward seven years, and Edwin has rejoined the Southport-Oak Island Marlins youth swim team. His participation is his first since having leukemia. Out of 12,000 competitors, at a recent meet he placed eighth in the butterfly event and 11th in the freestyle. Edwin will turn 10 in September and will be in the fifth grade at Southport Christian Academy.

The Lineberger pediatric oncology team forms close ties with patients and their families. Says, Carolyn Burnett, "I have never seen such dedication as I have from members of that clinic. Plus the variety of services they have for the patients and families: pizza, visits from Mr. Rainbow the Clown, computer games and a program called Carolina Pals that pairs UNC undergraduates with patients.

Julie Blatt, professor and chief of the Pediatric Oncology division, explains, "We treat whole families, not just the children, because the entire family is involved. Most adults can be treated near home, but because of the rarity of pediatric oncology, most children have to travel to regional medical centers for treatment."