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Danielle's Osteosarcoma & Amputation Journey

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Summary Danielle is a beautiful, intelligent, athletic 12 year old from Barbados who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma of her left leg about 6 months ago.  She started chemotherapy in early February 2020 to reduce a mass at the back of her knee in an effort to save her leg.  A few rounds of chemo later, amputation is now being advised and we’re trying desperately to raise money to send her to a children’s hospital in the USA in an effort to save her leg.  Here’s her Story...  Who is Danielle? Danielle has always been an inspirational and amazing child.  She is intelligent, fearless, bold, daring, athletic, practical and witty.  Before Danielle even had the opportunity to have formal training in gymnastics, she taught herself how to accomplish feats that were daring even for a coached gymnast.  No amount of pleading would stop Danielle from practicing what started out as simple cartwheels, then one-hand cartwheels, then no-hand cartwheels… She often practiced while her mother wasn’t looking but when she accomplished each goal on her own, she’d be so excited that she was willing to face the likely scolding and showed her mum.  Eventually, her mother gave up and allowed her to start formal training, deciding that if Danielle was going to do it anyway, she could as well ensure it’s done under the safest conditions. Danielle loves to try new physical activities. At 9 years old, she represented St Lawrence Primary School in the junior athletic interschool competition – NAPSAC. The following year, at 10 years old, she choreographed her own routine and entered her first junior Body Fitness Competition with no formal training – and came third!!! Having watched both her mother and older sister play volleyball while she was growing up, Danielle developed an interest and started playing at a young age.  When she was 11 and had just entered her new school (Harrison College), she tried out for the volleyball team and was the ONLY female in her year level who made the team.  Danielle was always academically inclined.  She loved school and always did well.  She actually had a surgery performed on April 18, 2019 – 3 weeks before her Common Entrance Exam to Secondary School – went into the exam on crutches and in moderate pain, and STILL received the top marks (female and overall) at her school and gained entry to the top school in Barbados – Harrison College (HC).  Danielle entered HC in September 2019 excited for her future. Unfortunately, that was the same month the results came back in and she was diagnosed as having Osteosarcoma.  A diagnosis that would change her life… Medical History of Events Danielle first started feeling pain in the back of her knee early in 2019 and brought it to the attention of her mum, Denell.  They were soon referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados where they detected a mass which was originally thought to be benign.  A biopsy was scheduled and surgery was performed to remove as much of the mass as possible on April 18th, 2019.  The results came back just as Danielle entered Harrison College in September 2019 and things seemed to spin quickly out of control (just a few weeks before her 12th birthday) - the mass was cancerous and Danielle was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma.  Danielle attended many visits with the doctors and it was initially thought that she could possibly have further surgery to remove the remaining mass in her knee.  Soon, 30 weeks of chemotherapy  was advised to start in early 2020 and though amputation of Danielle’s leg was a slight possibility, there was an expectation that chemotherapy would help to reduce the mass and make removal safer and easier.  Unfortunately, that has changed.  The doctors have done their best but advise now that the only option available in a few weeks is to remove Danielle’s leg from the knee down.  Danielle remained in good spirits through the usual toll that chemotherapy takes on your body – the nausea, weakness, vomiting, hair loss… And even in the wake of this news, she remains positive. We have been in contact with a few children’s hospitals in USA and our hope is that we can raise enough funds to get Danielle to a hospital for a second opinion.  We are trying to save the leg of this brave, talented, intelligent, active girl and don’t want to give up on this unless we have given her an opportunity to see other specialists in the hope of not having to amputate. We appreciate all of the assistance of friends and family who have been a support to her family through this difficult time.  Her older sister, Deandra is at University in USA and feels the pain of not being to be there with her little sister and assist in her care.  Danielle is an inspiration, and her strength is pulling everyone through.  She has often been our voice of reason and her ability to smile and even comfort us through it all is remarkable.  Any support you can provide is appreciated.  We thank you! Love, Danielle’s family and friends

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $5 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $75 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
  • Derek Didier
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs

Organizer and beneficiary

Ava Jones
Organizer
White Springs, FL
Kerri-Ann Edwards
Beneficiary

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