Amelia's Fight Against Brain Cancer

Amelia, or “Meals,” as she is called by those closest to her, has been fighting a horrible disease for the last year.  Last fall she suddenly began having horrible headaches and nausea and vomiting.  She was initially misdiagnosed with meningitis and migraines until finally a couple of months later, a trip to the ER led to a CT scan and the unthinkable diagnosis of a brain tumor.  She underwent brain surgery and was finally given the diagnosis of Gliobastoma Multiforme on the day before Thanksgiving.  After some healing time, she began a series of radiation treatments and chemotherapy and had quarterly MRIs to watch for the cancer’s return. 

During this time, she has remained a normal 9 year old girl, playing soccer and softball, swimming in the neighborhood pool and hanging with her family. While she was healing from her brain surgery, she walked almost daily with her grandmother around their neighborhood.  On these walks, she would pick up trash.  It was during these walks that found her passion for caring for the Earth and began a movement called #gettingtrashywithMeals.  People were picking up trash in her honor not only in many different states, but in several countries around the world as well.  When she was given an opportunity to be granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, she made a choice that was surprising for a 9 year old.  Instead of choosing a trip to Disney or a shopping spree, she chose to take care of the world for a day.  On February 27, hundreds of people from around Kansas City came together to help Amelia clean up several parks in the Kansas City area.  This led to other communities doing similar clean ups, including her mom’s hometown of Quincy, Michigan. 

During this time, she continued with her treatments and continued getting MRIs.  For nearly 9 months, she remained cancer free.  Unfortunately, her most recent MRI has shown that the cancer has returned.  Her parents are working with her current oncologist to develop the most effective plan for her treatment, but that plan will most likely involve extensive travel, resulting in unexpected travel and medical expenses and loss of income. 

Please help Meals’ parents by donating to this page to take some of the financial stress off their shoulders so they can focus on helping Meals beat cancer and go on being an earth loving 9 year old and beyond. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!