Chase's Story: One Boy's Struggle with Quadriplegia

Editor's Note: The following was written by the family of Chase Sterry, an 18-year-old from Eden Prairie who became quadriplegic over the space of only a few months due to a rare tumor. His family will host a benefit for Chase at Shakopee's Canterbury Park, in the Ascot Lounge, on April 4. 

Chase's Story

This is about my fiance's 18-year-old son, Chase, and how life can truly change in a moment!

It began in early November. Chase had been up north hunting with a friend. He came home and was complaining of a stiff neck. His Dad gave him a heating pad, he took some Aleve, but found very little relief.

It was decided to go to Tria and have it checked out. Perhaps it was a pinched nerve, or something that needed more then a heating pad. A therapist there worked on him a few times, with no results so he was referred to a neurologist in St Louis Park.

After some MRIs came back they saw that there was swelling in the spinal cord. [The doctors] were puzzled as to what was causing the pain, numbness and tingling that had begun to travel down Chase's left arm. He was started on a five-day course of IV steroids. 

Through it all the pain, tingling and numbness persisted.

By this time it was probably early December. The symptoms began to travel into his right arm and eventually caused his left leg to drag. The doctor thought that it may have been Lyme's disease or Transverse Myelitis. [The doctors decided to do] a spinal tap to try, if not figure out what it was, at least rule out what it wasn't.

It was decided that it was not Lyme's or MS. At that time, we as a family considered that a relief, a kind of good news.

So he underwent another course of intravenous steroids, followed by a week of oral steroids.

The symptoms became more and more problematic and we were becoming more and more concerned as to what was going on in his body.

The Mysterious Illness Takes a Turn for the Worse

The holidays were approaching. Chase drove to Prior Lake to spend Christmas day with some cousins in Prior Lake.

That was to be the last day he drove his truck.

Nothing was getting better, in fact as time passed it only became worse. Finally a decision was made to go and see a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

With Transverse Myelitis, if you are seeing no results with steroids the next step is plasma exchange, similar to kidney dialysis. This Mayo neurologist scheduled that procedure for Chase.

We have come to discover that Mayo attributes much of it's success to always working as a team. More minds often results in more successful outcomes.

Days before the plasma exchange was to take place, a 30-something resident suggested that what they were actually seeing in the MRIs was a tumor.

This is where "life starts to flip on a dime."

A Diagnosis, At Last

Surgery was scheduled to determine if it was in fact a tumor and what kind it was. We were given several different scenarios and we began to prepare as a family to enter the unknown.

Chase had been admitted to the hospital already. He and his dad really wanted to go home for a couple days to prepare for the surgery as a family.

That Sunday was awesome, a GIFT! He was surrounded by love and support, literally.

By early Monday morning plans collapsed. He had lost control of his bladder during the early morning hours. We were told that if the tumor caused swelling further up the spine it could compromise his breathing.

Time to arrange for transport back to Rochester.

 At the Brink

The seriousness of what we were facing truly began to sink in.

The day of surgery Chase left the room at around 7 a.m. and did not return to Intensive Care Unit until almost 8 that night. Prior to the surgery, his grandmother encouraged him to think of it like a ballgame, at the worst a double-header. Little did we know it would go beyond a triple-header.

Of all the scenarios described by the surgical team, the least favorable one was the news that was finally delivered to the family.

It was described as an "astral glioma," a very, very rare tumor.

So now Chase not only has a tumor, but due to the location he is also a quadriplegic. Surgeons removed four vertebrae and reinforced that space with steel fusion.

Building a New Life, Praying for a Miracle

Essentially he has been in the hospital since mid-January and life as we knew it has ceased to exist.

Since surgery there have been good days and bad days. Presently he is on the re-hab floor, the best place he has been since it all began. It keeps him very busy.

Chase is also undergoing radiation treatments Monday through Friday. So far, there are 11 down and 19 to go, which will be followed by oral chemo when he returns home.

It is a very fluid tumor. They described new growths as almost tentacle-like. Due to where it is located and the "nature of the beast" it will be very difficult to eradicate completely, but we are steadily praying for miracles. Fortunately, his dad has insurance and is taking family medical leave. He is essentially living at the hospital as well.

There are so many unknowns and so much to prepare for, for Chase's return home.

We can't help but wonder if not so much time had been spent with a wrong diagnosis would his prognosis be better?

Telling an 18-year-old, a senior in high school on the cusp of adulthood he has cancer is hard enough, but to also say you are a quadriplegic is devastating! 

I think his is a story worth sharing. Never in a million years did we think we might be facing something like this.

Through it all Chase has been simply amazing, inspiring and humbling. He has made us truly realize how fragile life can be, and what is really important! He surprises us every day with his determination to beat this!

To see a support page for Chase on Facebook, click here. A benefit will be held on for Chase on Thursday, April 4, at Canterbury Park in the Ascot Lounge, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The benefit includes a spaghetti dinner and a silent auction. The family also has a number of “Believe In Chase” wristbands, which are available for a $5 donation.

 All proceeds will go to help the family with the expenses necessary to accommodate his "new life."

Donations can be made at US Bank, “Benefit for Chase A. Sterry”