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think little of it and it usually resolves itself without incident. Usually.
In early 2003 Morgan Ras, an apparently healthy ten-year old from
Northford, began to complain of vague stomach pains and a lack of
appetite. After a couple of weeks the symptoms hadn’t resolved but a
visit to the pediatrician turned up nothing unusual, and a regular
physical a week later gave no cause for concern. A few weeks later
however, Morgan’s mom, Denise, received a call from the school
nurse - Morgan had a bad stomachache and she should pick him up.
Within a few hours, back at home, Morgan’s pain quickly worsened
and became so severe his parents rushed him back to the doctor.
This time, the doctor’s exam revealed a visible mass in his abdomen.
Still in pain, scared, and with his family deeply worried, Morgan went
into Yale-New Haven Hospital where he underwent multiple X-ray,
ultrasound, and CAT scans. The pain was so unbearable he had to
remain on morphine through the night. Then Morgan and his parents
were confronted with the worst possible news - the tests had revealed
what appeared to be cancer of the pancreas, one of the deadliest
forms of cancer, and it had to be removed immediately. This
diagnosis, devastating under any circumstances, was especially
frightening because of the cancer history in Morgan’s father’s family -
both Morgan’s paternal grandparents had been lost to different forms
of cancer and Morgan’s father had a form of skin cancer removed as a
child.
pancreas. They also placed a central line in his chest to deliver any required chemotherapy. Morgan remained in
the hospital for two weeks following surgery, during which time his doctors were unable to determine just what kind
of cancer he had, and so they were unsure of how to proceed with treatment. It took still another few weeks to
determine that he had acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas (ACC) - an incredibly rare form of the disease. After
hearing the diagnosis Denise searched the internet for information: “I found that of all the cancers, pancreatic
cancer is one you don’t want to get” she says, “and if you do get pancreatic cancer, ACC is one type you definitely
don’t want to get”. In fact, Morgan had developed one of the most unusual and aggressive forms of one of the
most lethal cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, there are only about 300 cases of ACC per year
in the United States, and the disease is almost unheard of in children. The statistics facing Morgan and his parents
were bleak – only 23% of patients with pancreatic cancer are alive one year after diagnosis. At five years, the gold
standard for cancer survival measurements, the survival rate is a mere 4%. In addition, Morgan’s form of the
disease is so rare that oncologists do not even have established treatment guidelines. It is miraculous then that
today, at age 12, Morgan has made an astounding recovery and is in normal health. After the surgery there were
fears that the cancer may have spread, but all blood tests to date have been negative. His oncologist visits and
blood draws have gone from once a month in the first year to once every three months now, but he still has to
have a CAT scan every six months. In an amazing against-the-odds outcome Morgan beat a cancer that,
statistically, he should never have had and probably should not have survived. His own doctors as well as
consultants at renowned cancer centers such as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute still cannot find a reason why
he developed the disease. His Mom, Denise calls him her “miracle child”, and you can understand why.
Having come through such an experience, Morgan and his family are very grateful for their good fortune, and
they want to help others facing cancer. This year, they are forming a team in Morgan’s honor (“Morgan’s Miracle
Team”) at the Relay For Life of North Branford, and Morgan will be taking part as a cancer survivor. Aware that
many other cancer patients’ outcomes are not as positive as Morgan’s, they are encouraging others to take part in
the event and join in them fight against cancer and help eliminate it forever. “Without the money raised by the
American Cancer Society, the knowledge, equipment and medicines would not have been available to treat
Morgan’s obscure illness” says Denise, “but even with all that we know, there is still a long way to go”
The Relay For Life will be held on June 4th and 5th, please explore this site or contact one of the committee for
information on how you can take part. Morgan’s team is running a “Stay At Home Tea Party” fundraiser – if you
would like to support their fundraising efforts please contact Denise Loeb or Morgan Ras at 484-4664.