Layla's Love

In October of 2012, just 5 days before Layla turned two years old, she was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (a rare cancer found in the eyes of children) in her right eye. We traveled to New York to see one of the best doctors in the country for RB, and on Halloween her eye was removed along with the tumor and a silicone implant was put in its place. In December, Layla had a procedure to check to see if the retinoblastoma had traveled anywhere else in her little body. The doctors at Childrens Hospital Pittsburgh performed a bone marrow test and spinal tap. In February, due to complications of fitting a prosthesis, Layla underwent a two hour surgery to remove scar tissue that all the doctors assumed was a reoccurance of tumor, and to fix her implant at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. She wore an eye patch for 6 months because of these complications. In April, she was finally able to get a prosthetic eye. Genetic testing has proved that the cancer was not sporadic and that Layla has the mutation of RB in 30% of her blood cells. This means she is at a higher risk to develop soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and breast cancer as she grows older. Every 4-6 weeks we travel from West Virginia to New York City to have her eyes checked for new growth of tumors. The doctors at MSKCC put her under anesthesia and take scans of both of her eyes. Because her mutation of RB is mosaic and not sporadic, her other eye is at risk to develop this cancer also. These trips are essential in providing Layla with the best medical care possible. Our bills are mounting and our travel expenses range from $1000-$1500 each time we visit New York. Please consider donating if you are able, every little bit helps. God Bless.