Hello everyone,

This is Athena Madisson Briones 13 months old, my niece in the Philippines. At 7 months of age, Athena was diagnosed with Lipoblastoma, a rare pediatric tumor arising from embryonic white fat. They noticed the growth on her upper left cheek when she was 2 months old and was told by a Pediatrician in the Philippines that they should wait on how this will progress as it was just fluid accumulating on her cheek and diagnosed it as cystic hygroma. 

On the 20th of April 2021, 5 months later, the tumor started to grow exponentially and consumed the orbit of Athena’s left eye. Athena’s vision in the left eye was obscured and she had left facial droop from the weight of the tumor. A decision was made to take Athena under the knife. April 26, 2021 was Athena’s first surgery and the biopsy resulted as lipoblastoma. Athena got discharged from the hospital on May 1st and was told by the surgeon that they removed all of the tumor but it may recur and must come back for another excision as this can only be treated through surgery. 

However on September 2021, 4months after the surgery, they noticed another growth on the same area where they removed the tumor. This time, the tumor is growing faster than before and is now affecting Athena’s breathing making her restless. Athena and her family are in St. Luke’s Hospital and they estimated the cost of the surgery to be $20,000 excluding  the professional fee of the surgeons, ICU admission, scans prior to the procedure, and other discharge medications. 

Our family was able to fund the first surgery but having to pay for 2 surgeries within a year could cause a big toll to our family financially and that’s why I’m personally knocking in each and everyone of your generous hearts to help Athena get through this journey that no kids should come across. 

Please include Athena in your prayers and if possible donating, any amount will help. From the bottom of our hearts we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family. For our friends and family in PH, you can also directly send it thru GCASH to Wilsam Briones (Athena's father) 

Gcash 09071973588

We thank you for your support and God bless to each and every one of you.