Sophia's Cancer Treatment

Most of you are aware of my niece Sophia Raso’s battle with cancer and the inspirational person she is to her family and friends, as well as devoted aunty to her nephews and niece.

For those that don’t know, Sophia’s battle with brain cancer started in 2000 when she was 9 years old. Sophia spent many months in Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, where she was lucky to have Dr Charlie Teo as her neurosurgeon. Dr Teo was able to remove most of a tumour from Sophie’s brain, however cancer cells that had spread to her brain stem and spine area were out of reach, even for the amazing Dr Teo. After receiving conventional treatment of chemotherapy and extensive blasts of radiation to her head and spine, the cancer remained impenetrable. While this time was extremely hard for Sophia, she and her family were fortunate to be distracted by the Olympic games that were being held in Sydney and were lucky enough to receive visits in hospital from Australia’s elite athletes, as well as receiving tickets from a kind beneficiary to attend the Olympic games closing ceremony.


At the end of the conventional treatment doctors advised Sophia and her family to go home and spend quality time together as she would not make it to the first year of high school. The doctors under estimated the sheer drive and determination of her family to find a cure for Sophia. This journey led them to Dr John Holt and his microwave therapy centre in Perth where she received alternative treatment over several months. We believe this treatment saved Sophia’s life and has given us 18 years with her that we weren’t expecting. However, during these 18 years the side effects of Sophie’s conventional treatment has left her with debilitating health problems such as hearing loss, loss of hair growth in the head area due to the high doses of radiation, a limp and unbalanced gait and the recent onset of seizures.

While Sophia was receiving treatment for these seizures in Westmead hospital, concern was raised over the loss of strength she was experiencing in her arms and hands. Sophia’s ever vigilant sisters asked that another MRI be done on Sophia’s spine, as most of the recent imaging had been concentrated on her brain. The results were devastating. The tumour cells that were inoperable 18 years ago had returned but were bigger this time and more aggressive. With surgery not, an option and chemotherapy and radiation the only viable treatment, her family are once again looking for alternative treatments to cure their sister. Dr John Holt has since retired with no other similar microwave treatments available in Australia. The closest treatment centre is in Germany under the care of Dr Herzog. We hope and pray that Australia can provide the cure that Sophia needs, however Sophia's sister's Daniella, Isabella and Susie will stop at nothing to explore all possible treatments to save their beautiful sister.

The months ahead will not be easy for Sophia and her family, particularly having to leave their country home to be in Sydney with no immediate family to provide support and comfort. I ask that you keep Sophia in your prayers, and that you also donate to assist with costs associated with Sophia’s ongoing treatment. Any donation of any size will be gratefully appreciated and will help make a difference.

I thank you in advance for your prayers, well wishes and generosity towards my beautiful and inspirational niece, Sophia!