Gracelyn’s Journey with Ewing’s Sarcoma
Donation protected
I’m writing this on behalf of my brother, Marty, sister-in-law, Kelsey and their beloved daughter, Gracelyn. Please keep the family in your prayers.
Gracelyn has been experiencing symptoms for the last few weeks, and today the Springer/Tope Family received some devastating news. Our sweet, loving, vivacious 8-year-old girl has a brain tumor and will need surgery to remove it immediately.
At the beginning of October, Gracelyn began complaining of a headache and stomachache, which would lead to vomiting on occasion. It started off as 1-2 times per week. Gracelyn would stay home from school, sleep until 1pm, and then wake up and be back to her normal self. They assumed it was anxiety or just a bad night’s rest causing it, as Gracie has always had issues with anxiety and stomachaches from her medication.
The first week of November, these spells progressed to 2-3 times a week, and Marty and Kelsey noticed her left eye kept crossing all throughout the day. Gracelyn wouldn’t feel her eye cross or even notice it. As the symptoms progressed and the spells increased, Kelsey and Marty felt something more serious was going on.
On the morning of November 14th, Gracelyn woke up complaining of a severe headache and was continually vomiting bile and stomach acid. Kelsey’s mama instincts kicked in and she took Gracie to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. After explaining the symptoms, the doctor didn’t hesitate to order a CT scan. After more than the anticipated 10-minute wait, the doctor entered the room and Kelsey felt the pit in her stomach grow. The doctor told them he had bad news and explained that their sweet girl has a mass on the left side of her brain.
Gracelyn was immediately transferred to University of Iowa Children’s Hospital to receive further imaging (MRI). Though the official results of the MRI are still pending, the imaging identified a large tumor and swelling from the mass. Gracie has been transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) due to the swelling in her brain. The midline of the brain should be straight and hers is not due the swelling surrounding the tumor in the left hemisphere. To put it in non-medical terms: You have rigid parts of your brain in your squishy parts, and Gracie’s squishy parts are trying to invade her rigid parts – this is dangerous, as it can cause permanent brain damage.
Gracie is scheduled for surgery on Monday, November 16th. They will go inside her brain and hopefully get more answers as to what kind of tumor this is;is it malignant? Is it benign? Can they remove the whole thing without damaging her?
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I know this has been a hard year for many, many people, but at this time I am asking friends, family, and loved ones to say a prayer for the Tope/Springer Family, to spread the word, and to donate if you are able. The family will need financial assistance to help with food, gas, bills, and medical expenses during this time.
Marty is currently sick with COVID, on leave from work, and not able stay at the hospital with the girls. Kelsey is also not able to work for the foreseeable future. Kelsey and Gracelyn will be staying at the hospital, while Marty and Jackson stay home and anxiously await the girls return.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate everyone’s assistance, thoughts, prayers, and shares.
Gracelyn has been experiencing symptoms for the last few weeks, and today the Springer/Tope Family received some devastating news. Our sweet, loving, vivacious 8-year-old girl has a brain tumor and will need surgery to remove it immediately.
At the beginning of October, Gracelyn began complaining of a headache and stomachache, which would lead to vomiting on occasion. It started off as 1-2 times per week. Gracelyn would stay home from school, sleep until 1pm, and then wake up and be back to her normal self. They assumed it was anxiety or just a bad night’s rest causing it, as Gracie has always had issues with anxiety and stomachaches from her medication.
The first week of November, these spells progressed to 2-3 times a week, and Marty and Kelsey noticed her left eye kept crossing all throughout the day. Gracelyn wouldn’t feel her eye cross or even notice it. As the symptoms progressed and the spells increased, Kelsey and Marty felt something more serious was going on.
On the morning of November 14th, Gracelyn woke up complaining of a severe headache and was continually vomiting bile and stomach acid. Kelsey’s mama instincts kicked in and she took Gracie to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. After explaining the symptoms, the doctor didn’t hesitate to order a CT scan. After more than the anticipated 10-minute wait, the doctor entered the room and Kelsey felt the pit in her stomach grow. The doctor told them he had bad news and explained that their sweet girl has a mass on the left side of her brain.
Gracelyn was immediately transferred to University of Iowa Children’s Hospital to receive further imaging (MRI). Though the official results of the MRI are still pending, the imaging identified a large tumor and swelling from the mass. Gracie has been transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) due to the swelling in her brain. The midline of the brain should be straight and hers is not due the swelling surrounding the tumor in the left hemisphere. To put it in non-medical terms: You have rigid parts of your brain in your squishy parts, and Gracie’s squishy parts are trying to invade her rigid parts – this is dangerous, as it can cause permanent brain damage.
Gracie is scheduled for surgery on Monday, November 16th. They will go inside her brain and hopefully get more answers as to what kind of tumor this is;is it malignant? Is it benign? Can they remove the whole thing without damaging her?
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I know this has been a hard year for many, many people, but at this time I am asking friends, family, and loved ones to say a prayer for the Tope/Springer Family, to spread the word, and to donate if you are able. The family will need financial assistance to help with food, gas, bills, and medical expenses during this time.
Marty is currently sick with COVID, on leave from work, and not able stay at the hospital with the girls. Kelsey is also not able to work for the foreseeable future. Kelsey and Gracelyn will be staying at the hospital, while Marty and Jackson stay home and anxiously await the girls return.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate everyone’s assistance, thoughts, prayers, and shares.
Organizer and beneficiary
Carlee Tope
Organizer
Cedar Rapids, IA
Kelsey Springer
Beneficiary
