Support Jia's Fight Against High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Help Support Jia in Her Battle Against High-Risk Neuroblastoma

This fundraiser is to support our amazing Jia and her family as she battles high-risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that affects the nervous system.

Update: Stolen Family Minivan

On May 5, 2025, during a vital medical visit, our family’s minivan was stolen from the hospital parking garage. This has added yet another layer of stress and hardship during an already difficult time. Any additional support right now would be deeply appreciated.

Meet Jia

Jia is a bright, brave, and loving 3-year-old who adores Elsa and Moana, exploring in her garden, dancing, and pink sprinkle donuts. Her journey with cancer began suddenly in January, after she became very sick following a family trip to Disneyland. Within days, she was rushed to the ER, where lab work showed alarming results.

On January 17, we received the devastating news: Jia had high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that had formed a large tumor on her adrenal gland and had already spread to her liver, arm, leg, and scalp. She immediately started her first round of chemotherapy. What began as an emergency room visit turned into a six-week initial hospital stay, at the end of which we welcomed our beautiful second daughter, Adela, in the very same hospital a few floors down.

Since her diagnosis, Jia has endured countless procedures, painful treatments, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery. She has lost so much of her normal childhood, but through it all, she has shown incredible courage and somehow maintains an infectious positivity.

Why We Need Your Support

The biggest reason we are raising funds is because I (Dena) am our family’s only source of income. My husband, Hoya, is a full-time stay-at-home dad caring for both Jia and our newborn daughter, Adela. Because of Jia’s severely immunocompromised state, neither child can be sent to daycare without risking exposure to dangerous illnesses.

As a public school speech-language therapist, I will have to take significant unpaid time off from work to care for Jia—especially after my maternity leave ends this summer. This means not only a loss of income, but also a likely drastic increase in our medical insurance premiums if I have to shift away from full-time work.

Hoya’s mom sacrificed time and resources to journey from Korea to help us during the past three months. Even with this additional support, we have been completely exhausted trying to manage daily life, treatments, and the care of both children. When she has to return to Korea next week, we will be on our own. I will need to be more available for Jia’s ongoing treatment and recovery, which means having to miss work frequently.

What Your Support Will Help With:

Your donations will help us afford:

✅ Medical costs (treatments, medications, and co-pays)

✅ Transportation to and from Jia’s many appointments

✅ Household essentials

✅ Making it possible for me to take the time I need to care for Jia without jeopardizing our family’s financial stability or access to medical insurance, which makes Jia's treatments possible.

Every donation, share, and message of encouragement makes a real difference in helping us continue this fight.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

— Dena, Hoya, Jia, and Adela

For updates, you can follow Dena and Hoya on Instagram:

Or, you can follow Jia's Facebook Page