Today's Trident - Trident Health System

a new tradition9330 Medical Plaza DriveCharleston, SC 29406Phone: (843)797-7000Fax: (843) 797-7001www.tridenthealthsystem.comSmall Patient,big personality, touches hearts of allLorenzo Newton is as full speed ahead as littleboys come. Expressive, liquid brown eyes light upat a friendly face – any one – and the infectious,mischievous giggle and klieg light smile simplycannot be resisted.One would never guess this sunny, pint-sizedwhirling dervish – barely two and a half yearsold – has cancer, much less just finished achemotherapy session less than an hour ago.Lorenzo Newton with presents he received from ER andCritical Care staff members.The squirms and giggles that seemingly powerthe small toy locomotive now speeding acrossthe break room table to crash into a cup full ofice, contrasts starkly with the quiet, steady voiceof the young mother recounting the momentwhen she had to listen to an emergency roomdoctor utter words all parents dread: “Your childhas cancer.” Lorenzo was suffering from acuteLeukemia.“That day I felt like I just couldn’t go on,” Lorenzo’smom, April Bennett said.However, faith in God, coupled with the veryreal presence of the caring, dedicated people atSummerville Medical Center’s Emergency ServicesDepartment, has helped her cope, she said.“I tell you, if I didn’t know God before, I sure knowhim now,” she said. “I think I’m doing really good –through faith I can do all things.”Thus far, the treatments seem to be working;Bennett says Lorenzo’s most recent tests show heis cancer free. In fact, if he continues to respondas well, his treatment team may be able todowngrade his treatment level and frequency to a“maintenance” level, she said.Chemotherapy for anyone is difficult toexperience and endure, yet Lorenzo seems to takeit all in stride, Bennett said. He has suffered few illeffects and doesn’t seem to mind the spinal tapsand the ports, she said.“He’s always up and running around, alwaysmoving, always eating. And he’s actually grownan inch.”That high energy, appetite, even physical growth,are all probably side effects of the steroids thatare a part of Lorenzo’s chemotherapy treatments,noted Laura Perdue, Director of EmergencyServices.Lorenzo’s story, however, is about much more thanthe bravery and good cheer shown by one of thesmallest of seriously ill patients. It’s even about morethan the courageous heartache two young parentsmust endure in every drip down a chemo line.Perdue noted that Bennett and Lorenzo’s father,Gilbert Newton have really stepped up to thecrisis, not only handling day-to-day issues butbecoming real cancer fighters and advocates.Their example has touched the hearts of so manyat SMC, so much so that the Emergency andCritical Care departments decided to adopt thefamily for Christmas, she said.“It was amazing,” April Bennett said. “Miss Laura(Perdue) told me she needed to see me and ledme into the Emergency Room. Then they pulledback the curtain on a room and there was a bedjust full of presents.”“This child and this family have touched us in away few ever do,” Perdue said. “In the ER, you peekinto people’s lives at the very worst times. You justknow when someone needs help – you can seethat somebody just needs a break.”“He (Lorenzo) inspires me,” security guard JamesRampersant said. “If he can go through whathe goes through the way he does, then there’snothing I can’t handle. That touched me.”He said the Christmas surprise was an experiencehe will always remember.“When I was able to help load that car withpresents, well, that to me was Christmas,” he said.“It’s not commercial – this is real.”By Jim Tatum, Summerville Journal Scene®Reprinted, in part, with permission.