Fighting Cancer with Sofia Mae

Hello! My name is Harley, and I am raising this fundraiser for my niece, Sofia.

Sofia is a wonderful, happy, and beautiful eight-year-old girl. Her family considers

her the mother hen who loves her siblings and cares for everything she can. She loves the races and sports. A typical day in the life of Sofia Mae during the summer consists of her spending the entire day outdoors. She only goes inside to grab a snack and go to the bathroom. She usually helps her grandpa and helps her siblings.

Approximately a month ago, Sofia came home from school one day with a temperature, and she was complaining about her tummy being sore. Her family thought she was experiencing constipation. She hadn't pooped in a few days! Sofia finally pooped and she felt better. Sofia was sent back to school.

Sofia was fine for a little bit, until she started complaining more about her tummy hurting. It was mostly the whole tummy so once again, we thought she was just constipated. Sofia's family tried teas, aloe, and laxatives. Everything to help. LIttle did they know, she was not constipated at all.

On Friday, June 17th, we took her to the emergency room for possible appendicitis, every symptom led to it. The doctors even thought it, or constipation. There was an ultrasound and bloodwork that was done.

After the results were presented to the doctor, the doctor came in to Sofia's room with a very low face. This is a mother's worst nightmare. The doctor informs Sofia's mom that Sofia's appendix is just fine. However, the radiologist found a large tumor located on Sofia's kidney. After this, the doctor ordered a CT Scan. That same CT scan confirmed Sofia's family's worst fear; Sofia Mae, this beautiful, sassy, and caring eight-year-old, has a cancerous tumor on her kidney. After Sofia's mom was informed of this, Mayo in La Crosse decided Sofia needed to be transferred to the Mayo in Rochester for treatment.

The next day, the family finds out more bad news. Not only is the tumor on her kidney, but the tumor is pushing against her other organs surrounding her kidney. There is currently fluid in her right lung, which is causing her lung to push the heart to the left side of her body.

What is the plan? Surgery, chemotherapy, and lots of love for Sofia. The doctors are doing a surgery all in one. They will remove the tumor off of the kidney and also drain the fluid. After the surgery, Sofia will be able to return home to her four younger siblings, grandparents, mom and step-dad, and other loved ones. She will then be asked to return to the hospital for further treatment for this cancer.

Sofia's mom will be taking FMLA from her job to tend to the high needs of a child who has cancer. We are wanting to start this fundraiser to assist her family in the traveling expenses as her family lives in Melrose-Mindoro and the treatments will be in Rochester, MN. Sofia's younger siblings include: Kimber, Anthony, Chevie, and Mateo.