Positivity: “Miracle Baby” Surviving and Thriving
From planning a funeral to planning for a fifth birthday party:
By TRACIE TROHA/Staff Writer
February 27, 2006HESPERIA, California — Jayson Sebby’s favorite hero may be Batman, but this hyperactive little boy is the real superhero.
Known in the High Desert as the “miracle baby” for surviving a rare type of cancer, Jayson will soon be celebrating another miracle. On March 24 his family is throwing a Batman-themed party in honor of his fifth birthday.
“It has really been amazing,” said Susan Sebby, Jayson’s mother. “I’ve gone from planning a funeral for him to planning for kindergarten.”
When Jayson was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2002, the cancer had invaded his internal organs, brain and spine. The prognosis was grim, but by 2004 the cancer had shriveled to a single banana-sized tumor in his stomach.
Sebby said this tumor is likely what is keeping her son alive.
“If he goes into remission and the tumor goes away, his chances of survival are slim,” she said. “No one with neuroblastoma has survived after they went into remission.”
Having a tumor in his stomach has not slowed Jayson down at all. He has been attending Hesperia Head Start for two years and plans to enter kindergarten in August.
“He has learned so much,” Sebby said. “He knows all his letters and how to read. It’s been beneficial for him to be around other kids. Educationwise, it’s the best thing for him.”
Sebby added that her son is not modest about his condition at all. In fact, the two will be traveling to the Neuroblastoma Conference in Chicago this summer to talk about Jayson’s ordeal.
Even with Jayson’s health improvements, this past year has had its ups-and-downs for the Sebby family. Jayson’s grandfather, whom he adores, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“We’re worried that once (Jayson’s grandfather) goes, Jayson will go downhill quick,” Sebby said. “His grandfather was his fishing buddy, and they watched cartoons together.”
Sebby herself is recovering from back surgery and started her own cleaning business, Cleanscapers, to pay the mounting medical bills.
Still, Sebby says, the family is enjoying life as much as possible and is even taking the time to give back to the people who have helped them.
On March 7, Sebby and Jayson plan to take truckloads of recyclable soda can pull-tabs they’ve collected to the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda. The pull-tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in the name of the High Desert and the money generated from them will provide free lodging for families going through similar situations. Anyone can donate to Sebby’s efforts by bringing soda pull-taps to Goin’ Postal at 16930 Main Street in Hesperia.
“We want people to know that the High Desert does exist and the people here are very generous,” she said.
