With kidney cancer in the rearview mirror, Drako is cruising toward a bright future

After a nasty spider bite sent Karesa Patton to seek medical care, a routine pregnancy test prior to treatment uncovered a big surprise. Karesa and her longtime partner, David Foster, were expecting a baby. Turns out, she was already four months along and had made it through the first trimester with not even a hint of morning sickness.  

The pregnancy was going well and the Amite, Louisiana based couple, and their three children, two teenage girls and a six-year-old boy, were excited for a new baby to join the family.  

Toward the end of 37-weeks, however, both Karesa and the baby were experiencing very high blood pressure. The doctor decided it was time to induce and the entire situation turned a bit “rough,” Karesa recalled, noting “I had to have a C-section and I was scared out of my mind!” 

“Drako Grant Foster came into this world a little early on Nov. 23, 2021,” she said, “but he was perfect.” After a few days in the hospital, Mom and baby boy were discharged. 

Karesa went back to work and Drako was showing his “people skills” at daycare. By the time Drako was 17 months old, toddling around and talking up a storm, something started to seem wrong to Karesa. 

“I thought he had gas because his belly was very round,” Mom said. “I know all babies have little round bellies but this seemed different.” 

An appointment was made with the pediatrician who confirmed that little Drako’s abdomen was distended. Following an ultrasound that afternoon on April 11, 2023, Drako was headed to Children’s Hospital New Orleans (CHNOLA) where Karesa received jolting news. 

After an MRI, Drako had a biopsy test that revealed he had cancer, and very high blood pressure. Drako and his family set out on a long journey of recovery with the cancer fighting team at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. He started chemotherapy right away to shrink the tumor. For the entire 12 days Drako was in the hospital, Karesa said she felt like her “whole world stopped.” 

“I found out my baby had a softball-sized tumor on his kidney. That’s when I first heard the term, ‘Wilms Tumor,” Karesa said. “I called David right away because I was freaking out. It all happened so fast. How could he have cancer? He was only one!” 

Wilms tumor, a nephroblastoma, is mainly diagnosed in children. Though rare, it is the most common pediatric kidney cancer.  

After six weeks of chemotherapy, Drako’s tumor had shrunk by 80 percent and doctors felt it was the right time for surgical intervention. Children's Hospital New Orleans pediatric surgeon, Fabienne Gray, MD, removed his left tumor and lymph nodes on May 26, 2023. 

“If you didn’t know he had cancer, you would not have known by looking at him,” Mom continued. “After the surgery, we stopped chemo for a week to do radiation and then he went back on chemo until October 20.” 

Finally, in March of 2024, Drako underwent some final testing that revealed he is now, Karesa prays, in the clear and that his cancer is in the rearview mirror at last. He rang the cancer remission bell in May – almost a year to the day after his surgery. 

Karesa and David and all four of their kids are looking forward to a “normal future” – one that isn’t filled with constant doctor’s appointments. If you ask Drako, he would much prefer to watch Paw Patrol, play with Lego, do puzzles, color and spend time with his siblings. 

“I just feel so relieved,” Karesa said. “The whole time, even though he wasn’t acting sick, I knew what was going on. I know he will never remember it but I’m grateful and thankful to God that we are blessed with such a beautiful, strong and smart little boy.” 

She said her entire family is also thankful for pediatric nephrologist Jessica Rosario Falero, MD, and Justin Farge, MD, pediatric hematology/oncology physician, both specialists at CHNOLA.  

“They have been so amazing during this journey. Our favorite nurse, Sheri always held my hand and constantly told me my baby was in good hands. 

“The entire medical team at Children’s was so nurturing. They all made the process seem less scary. They told me about every single thing before it was done and they wrote everything down for me,” she said. “The truth is, they took care of Drako, me and David. Children’s is amazing and they made this journey more bearable. I would never wish this journey on anyone but if you have to go through it, there is no better place than CHNOLA.” 

To learn more about the Children’s Hospital New Orleans nephrology department, visit https://www.chnola.org/services/nephrology/. To learn more about CHNOLA’s hematology and oncology services, visit https://www.chnola.org/services/hematology-oncology/oncology-services/.