Baby G Relapsed with Rare Cancer
Donation protected
In December 2016, my dear friend, Olivia, found an unusual mass on her 5 month old daughter, Giovana, which was soon diagnosed as a very rare pediatric cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma.
As you can imagine, it was a heartbreaking and scary moment for Olivia and her family: Rudy (Husband), sisters Deia (16) and Ziana (8), and brother Rumari (9, on the Autism spectrum).
Because this type of cancer is so rare (only 350 cases yearly in the country), Giovana underwent surgery at Sloan Kettering in New York to remove the large tumor, and started her cancer fight at Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC) over the 2016 holidays. Her road to recovery stretched out over 6 months with weekly chemo treatments, hospitalization every three weeks, and radiation back in NY to prevent the tumor from returning. The treatment went as smoothly as it could have and was successful! Giovana was declared cancer-free in June 2017 and we were all so overjoyed!
That joy, however, was short-lived.
Sadly, Olivia found a new tumor in the same area in September 2017 and immediately took Giovana to CHOC where the oncologists feared the worst – the cancer had returned.
A trip back to NYC Sloan Kettering in October confirmed that although the masses were in the same area as before, they were new cancerous growths, so Giovana immediately underwent surgery again to remove the tumors and another pet scan.
After the surgery in New York, she returned to CHOC immediately to start her next round of treatment: 6 more months of chemo and 10 radiation sessions.
This time around, the treatment did not go as smoothly as the first one - Olivia and Giovana were in and out of the hospital for 3 weeks because the treatment was making the baby so sick. Baby Giovana could not keep anything down, she was lethargic and losing weight rapidly.
A re-evaluation of the treatment plan led the doctors to add medication to help Giovana’s little body handle the chemotherapy. The adjusted treatment seemed to be working as Giovana was not as sick during her second round, so the path to recovery seemed to be promising; but again, that relief was short-lived.
Due to some concerns they had from her last pet scan, the doctors in NYC wanted Giovana to undergo an additional pet scan. Olivia and Rudy were very concerned about this because of the invasiveness and harm from side effects to baby Giovana, but with the doctor’s insistence, they moved forward with the scan.
What was thought to be a quick trip, Olivia and Giovana flew back out to NYC on Monday, December 4th for the pet scan...but to the doctors’ surprise and despite the new/stronger chemo Giovana was receiving, the scans revealed 2 new tumors that grew during the treatments. Giovana was admitted into surgery the very next day to remove the tumors and allow the doctors to take 20 biopsies.
The heartbreaking news now is that out of the 20 biopsies, 18 came back positive for cancer. This means the previous treatment did not work at all.
Giovana is the first child to ever relapse from this treatment…she is only 17 months old.
In sharing the heartbreaking news to close friends and family, Olivia expressed, “Right now we are devastated, tired is an understatement. Our cups are empty. The only thing I cling to is to know that regardless of how I feel, I know that the Lord gives rest to the weary…right now we are at a complete loss and we do not understand.”
The new treatment plan is for Giovana to endure 11 months of the strongest (and harshest) chemo at CHOC, and the family is faced with deciding about additional radiation or major surgery, which will affect Giovana severely in her adulthood.
All of this has put a strain on the family emotionally and financially.
Olivia has had to take off many days of work, and has used up all her sick and vacation days for the trips back and forth to NYC, and for hospital stays during 4-5 day chemo treatments. Everyday missed is now unpaid and her employment is connected to Giovana’s health insurance coverage. Rudy, as an independent contractor, balances work opportunities with caring for the siblings and joining Olivia in NYC when possible.
Being a mother myself, I can’t imagine not being with my child if my family were going through something like this, so choosing work over being with her child is an impossible choice for Olivia.
There are so many of us who love Giovana and her family and have been doing whatever we can to help financially and otherwise, but it’s just not enough, so Sascha, Joby and I felt compelled to do more after so many friends recommended starting a GoFundMe page. We are hoping that we can raise enough money to not only help ease the stress of their increasing medical bills, but also help with day to day expenses that would normally be covered by their monthly income, but cannot be due to lost wages.
Please, I beg you to consider donating to this family. They are already making every sacrifice possible for their child to ensure she receives the best medical care in the hopes that she will once again be declared cancer-free.
With love and hope,
Diana (Sascha and Joby)
Our little warrior
Before surgery with mom and dad
Such a strong and brave little girl
Dressed up as a princess while she was at CHOC on Halloween
As you can imagine, it was a heartbreaking and scary moment for Olivia and her family: Rudy (Husband), sisters Deia (16) and Ziana (8), and brother Rumari (9, on the Autism spectrum).
Because this type of cancer is so rare (only 350 cases yearly in the country), Giovana underwent surgery at Sloan Kettering in New York to remove the large tumor, and started her cancer fight at Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC) over the 2016 holidays. Her road to recovery stretched out over 6 months with weekly chemo treatments, hospitalization every three weeks, and radiation back in NY to prevent the tumor from returning. The treatment went as smoothly as it could have and was successful! Giovana was declared cancer-free in June 2017 and we were all so overjoyed!
That joy, however, was short-lived.
Sadly, Olivia found a new tumor in the same area in September 2017 and immediately took Giovana to CHOC where the oncologists feared the worst – the cancer had returned.
A trip back to NYC Sloan Kettering in October confirmed that although the masses were in the same area as before, they were new cancerous growths, so Giovana immediately underwent surgery again to remove the tumors and another pet scan.
After the surgery in New York, she returned to CHOC immediately to start her next round of treatment: 6 more months of chemo and 10 radiation sessions.
This time around, the treatment did not go as smoothly as the first one - Olivia and Giovana were in and out of the hospital for 3 weeks because the treatment was making the baby so sick. Baby Giovana could not keep anything down, she was lethargic and losing weight rapidly.
A re-evaluation of the treatment plan led the doctors to add medication to help Giovana’s little body handle the chemotherapy. The adjusted treatment seemed to be working as Giovana was not as sick during her second round, so the path to recovery seemed to be promising; but again, that relief was short-lived.
Due to some concerns they had from her last pet scan, the doctors in NYC wanted Giovana to undergo an additional pet scan. Olivia and Rudy were very concerned about this because of the invasiveness and harm from side effects to baby Giovana, but with the doctor’s insistence, they moved forward with the scan.
What was thought to be a quick trip, Olivia and Giovana flew back out to NYC on Monday, December 4th for the pet scan...but to the doctors’ surprise and despite the new/stronger chemo Giovana was receiving, the scans revealed 2 new tumors that grew during the treatments. Giovana was admitted into surgery the very next day to remove the tumors and allow the doctors to take 20 biopsies.
The heartbreaking news now is that out of the 20 biopsies, 18 came back positive for cancer. This means the previous treatment did not work at all.
Giovana is the first child to ever relapse from this treatment…she is only 17 months old.
In sharing the heartbreaking news to close friends and family, Olivia expressed, “Right now we are devastated, tired is an understatement. Our cups are empty. The only thing I cling to is to know that regardless of how I feel, I know that the Lord gives rest to the weary…right now we are at a complete loss and we do not understand.”
The new treatment plan is for Giovana to endure 11 months of the strongest (and harshest) chemo at CHOC, and the family is faced with deciding about additional radiation or major surgery, which will affect Giovana severely in her adulthood.
All of this has put a strain on the family emotionally and financially.
Olivia has had to take off many days of work, and has used up all her sick and vacation days for the trips back and forth to NYC, and for hospital stays during 4-5 day chemo treatments. Everyday missed is now unpaid and her employment is connected to Giovana’s health insurance coverage. Rudy, as an independent contractor, balances work opportunities with caring for the siblings and joining Olivia in NYC when possible.
Being a mother myself, I can’t imagine not being with my child if my family were going through something like this, so choosing work over being with her child is an impossible choice for Olivia.
There are so many of us who love Giovana and her family and have been doing whatever we can to help financially and otherwise, but it’s just not enough, so Sascha, Joby and I felt compelled to do more after so many friends recommended starting a GoFundMe page. We are hoping that we can raise enough money to not only help ease the stress of their increasing medical bills, but also help with day to day expenses that would normally be covered by their monthly income, but cannot be due to lost wages.
Please, I beg you to consider donating to this family. They are already making every sacrifice possible for their child to ensure she receives the best medical care in the hopes that she will once again be declared cancer-free.
With love and hope,
Diana (Sascha and Joby)
Our little warriorBefore surgery with mom and dadSuch a strong and brave little girlDressed up as a princess while she was at CHOC on HalloweenOrganizer and beneficiary
Diana Dieppa Lemoli
Organizer
Downey, CA
Olivia Dasso
Beneficiary