Addison Cox, 9-Month-Old With Stage 4 Cancer Passed From Her Mom, Fights For Her Life

James Cox, of Phoenix, Arizona lost his wife Briana to cancer, and now he is fighting to keep the same disease from killing their infant daughter.

First diagnosed and treated for melanoma six years ago, the couple thought Briana was cancer-free when she became pregnant with Addison. But when their daughter was a few weeks old the couple learned the disease was back with a vengeance -- stage four metastatic malignant melanoma -- and had been spreading through Briana’s body during her pregnancy.

At first doctors at Phoenix Children's hospital said it wasn't possible for the cancer to have been passed to Addison, CBS5 News reported. There have been fewer than a dozen cases where cancer was transmitted from mother to child in the past decade. But in fact Addison was eventually diagnosed with stage four melanoma as well -- and it has spread to her heart, liver and brain.

Briana Cox, a military veteran and former police officer died on February 12. Her daughter seems to have the same fighting spirit James Cox says. "You would think this is one of the happiest babies on the face of the earth," he told AZfamily.com. "She's a fighter like her mom. She's showed no signs of pain."

The FDA approved a chemo pill for baby Addison, and though it seems to be working a bit, doctors give her two years to live. Now, family and friends are rallying around the baby and are committed to fulfilling Briana's wish -- "to raise awareness and help her daughter," CBS5 reports.

And because her treatment isn't covered by insurance, the members of their Arizona community are trying to raise money to help the family. According to CBS5:

Officers are holding a fundraiser March 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Air Unit, which is located at 102 East Deer Valley Rd. in north Phoenix. Lunch will be available at $5 per plate. Numerous items will also be raffled to raise money to help the family with medical expenses.

For more information, contact Sgt. Keith Politte at 602-999-2214.

Donations can also be made to the Cox Family Donation Account at Arizona Federal Credit Union.

Comments

[Joan Marie DeVito Burke]

04:26 PM on 03/02/2012

Take Addison to Dr Brysinski in Houston, Texas - he will cure her of cancer

[GOODDOC1]

07:10 AM on 03/12/2012

He has an excellent record with certain brain cancers,but I don't know if he has experience with metastatic melanoma. Still, it couldn't hurt to contact hum.

[bostonjb]

01:45 PM on 03/02/2012

You can also donate via the link here on the WePay site:

https://www.wepay.com/donations/158963

I don't know the family, but I'm sure they need all the help they can get.

[Oliviaalexis]

08:03 AM on 03/02/2012

The American Health Care system is DISGUSTING. how can they "not cover" certain med's/illnesses? shouldn't Health care cover every aspect of ones health?
People are going on and on about how if they made it "Socialized" why should a tax payer foot the medical bill of a non tax payer. the sad truth is you already pay Tax for other people to have housing/food etc.. so why would it be so bad to pay for someone's child to have medication etc... you also get FULL health cover in return AND you pay next to nothing out of your Tax,here in the UK I pay £10/month out of a £22,000 pay check in America my Cousin (American Citizen) pays $150/month out of a $25,000 CRAZY! and she runs the risk of being "not covered" for illnesses AND when she goes to the ER still has a bill to pay! She had her first baby last May came out of a 1 night stay in Hospital with a $5500 bill even though she was covered by insurance, how? I walked out of the hospital FREE. Also to any one defending American Health Care check out how LOW you are on "the top Healthcare" lists, you are below ALL of Western Europe, Cuba, Brazil etc.... something to think about no?

[raintoday]

12:22 AM on 03/02/2012

I'm confused (not) - how is cancer treatment for an infant "not covered" by private insurance - or is that one of the items that only "socialist" insurances cover ??
This is a tragedy first and foremost for the child and the family - but what a commentary about our society - one of many
For those people who think that single payer health insurance will "make" them pay for others who are "free-loading" - we are already paying for people who don't or can't pay - each and every day

[GOODDOC1]

07:12 AM on 03/12/2012

I think SHE'S covered, just not the experimental treatment she needs to survive.

[raintoday]

12:07 PM on 03/12/2012

Thanks - I sort of get that - but I also reread the article below and didn't see the word "experimental" anywhere ....... still tragic ...... and what is the purpose of printing this ?? clearly others, besides me, will jump on the "denial of treatment" issue and flame up - more info like what sort of tx is being denied and what are the stats on success or relative success would have been helpful.

[jazzy3]

06:04 PM on 03/01/2012

I said before I wish it was my boss and a couple of people said it was not right for what I said. I do apologize and I was upset at the time.

Again my heart goes out to this little baby.

[GOODDOC1]

07:16 AM on 03/12/2012

I understand your feelings, but you can't wish death on anyone. Karma, you know? I don't have that much longer to live, but I'd gladly give her the time I have left if it could help her. She's in my prayers.

[tiredofcorruption]

06:00 AM on 03/01/2012

St. Jude's is a godsend. I hope the family can get there.

The sad backstory is that this is the only first-world nation where people have to shake a tin cup to get life-saving medical care.

[BBLOND]

01:40 PM on 03/01/2012

not true about the medical care here

[lowellmom]

01:49 PM on 02/29/2012

I don't know if the family will see this but St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will not only take zero money from the family, but they will also put Dad up near the hospital with food/necessities. If anyone who reads this knows the family, please encourage them to have the doctor refer her to St. Jude!

[Alki Gifting]

11:34 PM on 03/01/2012

Wow, I should donate to St Jude's, that's awesome

[lowellmom]

01:32 PM on 03/02/2012

My entire family does. My kids are part of fitnessforacure.com which is dedicated to raising money and awareness for St. Jude. The hospital and staff are incredible.

[GOODDOC1]

07:18 AM on 03/12/2012

They have a satellite facility in Peoria, IL. Maybe they have one near them. I certainly hope so.

[chtrek]

11:28 AM on 02/29/2012

My question is why isn't the treatment covered by insurance. The story didn't say the couple has no insurance, just that the treatment isn't covered.

[Melanie Manera]

07:21 PM on 03/05/2012

It may be an experimental treatment. A lot of insurance companies won't cover experimental cancer treatments.

[chtrek]

10:37 PM on 03/05/2012

Maybe - or it could be they could only afford a policy that covers the bare minimum.

[Kevinskogg]

11:01 AM on 02/29/2012

Effing doctors:

"At first doctors at Phoenix Children's hospital said it wasn't possible for the cancer to have been passed to Addison, CBS5 News reported. There have been fewer than a dozen cases where cancer was transmitted from mother to child in the past decade."

Doctors have no clue about probability, risk, and proper problem solving technique. Their incredible arrogance is responsible for more deaths than smoking. I don't know if the baby could have saved, and considering the barbaric way they treat cancer, maybe not, but any early treatment was eliminated because of their error.

[Alki Gifting]

11:35 PM on 03/01/2012

I have a doctor in my family but I couldn't agree more

[Kevinskogg]

03:08 PM on 03/05/2012

Just so you don't get in trouble with her or him, it isn't the individual Doctors, it is the system. It is the same in manufacturing, people don't make mistakes, systems let mistakes happen.

[Leo Camacho]

10:56 AM on 02/29/2012

its a shame AMERICA cant provided healthcare as a right to everyone,something to learn from others countries,i guess the american dream its not complete....

[flknights]

11:35 AM on 02/29/2012

Socialized health care in other countries has failed...there is no simple answer. Health care, doctors, hospitals, medications have all gotten totally out of control so nobody can afford the care they need anymore. Start here with that.....forget other countries, we live in AMERICA!

[zwaki]

11:49 AM on 02/29/2012

Somebody has to pay for it.

SOMEBODY? Do you volunteer? Tax hike?

[Alki Gifting]

11:37 PM on 03/01/2012

I'll take a stab in the dark here...how about the insurance company?
She was after all very much insured and it is after all the doctor's fault -- not hers

[GOODDOC1]

07:19 AM on 03/12/2012

Yes, I'd pay more taxes if they would help more people like this child!

[rickiraccoon]

10:55 AM on 02/29/2012

So sad. I can only imagine what asinine excuse the insurance company gave for their denial of coverage.

[LivelyLexie]

10:47 AM on 02/29/2012

How heartbreaking! I feel so bad for this baby's father... to lose your wife and then have your baby fighting for her life? Horrible.

[clazzigirl]

10:44 AM on 02/29/2012

This makes me very sad to hear. I'm sorry to sound pessimistic, but I think I am just realistic. Stage four...that is terrible. I see people have been offering alternative solutions such as wheatgrass. I think turmeric is very promising as well, but honestly, I would really suggest those things only as a supplement to this treatment with Dr. Burzynski. http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/

He prefers to treat children, especially those with rare conditions. The treatment he uses has no side effects; at best, it cures the person, at worst it doesn't, but at least it doesn't give them any painful side effects that treatments like chemo do.

[ogates]

10:37 AM on 02/29/2012

Another reason to support the AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT. Healthcare for as many Americans as possible and preferably all Americans isn't the boogie man the gop/tper has made it out to be and without it what hope do the ill in America have?

[wildeowens]

11:08 AM on 02/29/2012

The Affordable Healthcare Act can't force an insurance co. to provide a treatment it says is not covered under one's policy. Sometimes it's difficult to get insurance companies to pay out claims even on treatments that are CLEARLY covered under one's policy. This baby probably has insurance; the article did not say she didn't. The Affordable Health Care Act has some good things in it, but the worst thing it did was bolster the private insurance industry in America by requiring Americans to buy private insurance, which is a for-profit and life-disregarding enterprise. That is why the Democrats, the vast majority of whose life-blood is corporations, have proven once again what moral cowards they are. They could have passed a public/government option, but they chose to provide the greedy insurance companies with even more business.

[hiitthedirtboys]

10:33 AM on 02/29/2012

Have the AIR FORCE fly her to ST JUDE immed...Pedi cancer doctors 24/7 and NO pay ever unless down the road you can help but they NEVER ask for pay...bEST place on earth where the navy took my adopted son Norm

[marycullman1]

01:42 PM on 02/29/2012

St. Jude is an expermintal hospital and use severe treatments but they do not charge if you can't pay