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The Kreber family: facing a better tomorrow
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The Kreber Family
(Backrow l-r)
Dave, Drew, Sally
Monica and Zack
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Past. Present. Future. These are where Dave and Sally Kreber,
parents of three, feel the impact of medical discovery. Like many
supporters of the CRI, they look back with progress, look forward with
hope and see each day as a gift. "Where would my family - and so many
others - be without medical progress," says Dave Kreber. "I cannot even imagine."
Past
Concerned about a low-grade fever her daughter had experienced for a
week, Sally Kreber took 7-year-old Monica to the doctor. The diagnosis
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia - stunned the family. " It was a Friday
afternoon, and I was playing golf when my wife called," says Dave
Kreber. "I literally fell to my knees, saying 'She has what?' It seemed
impossible."
Monica's type of leukemia is the most common afflicting children today.
Due to discoveries in pediatric research, it is also the most treatable.
Just decades ago, Monica's prognosis
would have been devastating.
"Doctors gave us great hope," says
Dave. "They also told me that, if I had
been diagnosed at Monica's age,
the outlook would have been quite
different."
Curing Monica took three years of
chemotherapy, hundreds of nights in
the hospital (including two
Christmases), and a dedicated team
of MUSC clinicians.
"We owe thanks to so many amazing
people," says Dave. "And we realize
Monica owes her life to the progress
available through medical research,
and the doctors who know how to
use it."
Present
Monica finished chemotherapy three years ago and today is a healthy 13-year-old. Her family's health
challenges, however, continue.
In December 2002, Zach Kreber, the youngest child at age 8, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. "Sally
and I don't understand it," says Dave. "We think we must have been put on this earth to care for sick
children."
Zach's daily regimen, usually five blood tests and at least three insulin shots per day, has been an adjustment
for the whole family.
"To be honest, we are relieved to be at MUSC fighting diabetes instead of leukemia," says Dave. "We're
doing everything we can to make sure Zach has a normal life. Getting him the best treatment and access
to the newest therapies is the best we can do for him."
Future
Because of ongoing diabetes research at MUSC and other facilities, the Krebers believe that better, easier
treatment for diabetes will be available to Zach as he grows older.
The Medical University is building a new islet cell transplantation center that could help Zach and other
type-1 diabetics avoid the need for insulin injections. Investigators there say a cure might be on the horizon,
in the not-too-distant future.
"The research happening now will change Zach's future," says Dave. "I believe, in his lifetime, diabetes
will be just a one-pill-a-day condition, hardly anything to worry about."
As for Monica, the Krebers are optimistic about her future,
too. Doctors believe she can bank on a healthy future, free
from leukemia.
The Krebers are loyal supporters of the Children's Research
Institute. "Scientific research has made such a difference in
our lives," says Dave. "We want every family who walks
through the MUSC Children's Hospital doors to have the
same hope we did."
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