Little Viking Vaughn's Cancer Journey
By Emily LaMarque
When our son, Vaughn, was diagnosed at 11 months of age with high-risk infantile leukemia, our family was devastated. We spent months in the hospital for treatment, and the side effects of the chemo combined with multiple life-threatening infections nearly took his life a number of times. Combined with intense pain, he suffered immeasurably.
Once Vaughn was stable, we immediately sought the help and support of Dr. Mao and his team to support Vaughn’s cancer treatment with acupuncture, herbs, and Eastern medicine. The combination of the traditional chemotherapy with the Chinese herbs, acupuncture and other integrative approaches provided a synergy and strengthening of treatment for Vaughn that he wouldn’t have received with a Western approach alone.
Over the course of Vaughn’s two and a half years of chemotherapy and traditional cancer therapy, we visited Tao of Wellness twice per week and integrated their treatments as part of our wellness plan for Vaughn. Albert and Dr. Mao used a combination of needles and a “clicking-pen” specifically for children in their treatments. In addition to acupuncture and Tuina massage, we found that Vaughn really enjoys cupping and bodywork as well. He enjoys taking his herbal preparations and accepts the acupuncture needles like a champion, thanks to everyone at Tao of Wellness providing a safe a nurturing space.
Vaughn continued to have some side effects from the drugs, however, from the first acupuncture treatment, we immediately began to see a positive difference in Vaughn. By using the acupuncture treatments combined with herbal formulas, Tuina massage and other integrative approaches, Vaughn steadily began to gain weight, get stronger, recover faster from chemotherapy, sleep better, and have a brighter disposition in general. We were able to manage and greatly minimize his nausea, his insomnia, and his pain so that he could get a foothold in his recovery and not only endure but thrive during the remaining journey of his chemotherapy treatment.
Vaughn finished his last chemo treatment at the end of October 2018, and he remains in remission from his cancer. At this point, he has very few lasting side effects from the chemo, surgeries, and procedures, and we owe much of that to acupuncture, Eastern medicine, and his Tao of Wellness team. Vaughn still loves to see Albert and Dr. Mao, and we plan to continue utilizing Eastern medicine to keep Vaughn strong, healthy and in remission. We truly believe Vaughn’s healing success is due to our integrative approach. We are dedicated to keeping Vaughn well, and we will always rely upon Eastern and integrative approaches to complement Western medicine in order to keep his body, mind, and spirit balanced and healthy.
Viking Vaughn, is being honored by the California Southland Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as their 2020 Los Angeles Honored Hero!
Read more about Vaughn’s story and his journey through his Leukemia battle.
