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Treatment continues for the rest of her life
By Shalina Ramirez
The Paris News
Published March 27, 2008
Ten-year-old Amanda Berry enjoys gymnastics, tumbling, scrapbooking and rubber stamping.
She and her brother, Walker, play and squabble like any other siblings in Lamar County.
But that’s where the normalcy ended.
On Sept. 14, 2007, Amanda was diagnosed with a primary brain cancer.
“She had been having headaches for over a year and her doctors couldn't understand why,” her mother, Deborah Berry, said. “Some did get to the point of migraines.”
An MRI revealed a hypothalamic tumor, an abnormal growth that develops inside or on top of the hypothalamus gland in the brain.
Amanda underwent a biopsy and two rounds of chemotherapy at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.
The Bailey Intermediate fourth grader also endured a 30-day regiment of radiation treatments.
“Right now, she’s in what we consider recession,” her mother said. “The next step is we do periodic MRIs to make sure it stays gone. We’ll do those every three months.”
Amanda’s story isn’t over yet — not by a long shot.
“She takes a lot of medication,” Deborah Berry said.
“She has three every day and she’ll take those for the rest of her life.”
The hypothalamus, located in the middle of the base of the brain, controls the hormonal processes of the body as well as temperature, mood, hunger, and thirst.
“Amanda doesn’t produce hormones the way most people do,” her mother explained. “Her medication takes care of that.”
A medical alert bracelet presents a concise overview of Amanda’s condition, allergies and medicines.
“Most children don’t wear those,” her mother said. “That’s something you would normally see on a diabetic or older person.”
Amanda’s mother and father, Ronny Berry, marvel at their daughter’s energy and stamina.
“Amanda is very outgoing, a very loving child,” her mother said. “She makes friends easily and she doesn’t have any fear. She doesn’t wear scarves. She doesn’t wear a hat.”
Friends of the Berry family have organized a fish fry benefit Sunday for Amanda. “Boo Boo Berry Blowout” takes place from noon to 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Paris.
“It’s to help with other costs that may arise with future treatments due to the fact that we live here and her treatments are in Dallas,” Amanda’s mother said.
The benefit includes live and silent auctions, games, and live entertainment by Vince Vance, Billy Ratliff Band, Michael O'Neal and Crew One.
Tickets are $5-$15 at the door. Children five and under get in free.
“When Amanda was diagnosed, we made the decision we would do what we had to do to get her through this,” her mother said. “We’ve had a difficult time, but we’re still together.”
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