Sometime around mid-July, Cam and Sheri began noticing tremors in Callie’s right hand. At first, they were mostly a frustration at mealtimes—she’d switch her spoon to her left hand. But the tremors worsened over the next few weeks and began affecting her overall mobility. After a visit to the family doctor, an appointment was scheduled with a pediatrician for December.
But symptoms kept worsening. Concerned but not seriously worried, Cam and Sheri took Callie to the emergency department at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. After tests and a CT scan, they were told that Callie had a large mass in a difficult-to-reach area of her brain. An MRI the next day confirmed a large tumor extending into the thalami and hypothalamus. A surgical biopsy, done through the left side of her brain, identified it as a diffuse midline glioma (H3K27 altered)—a rare, very aggressive, grade 4 tumor for which there is no cure. The only medical intervention is palliative radiation, which may slow the tumor’s progression and extend her prognosis to 6-12 months.
The news has been devastating. In just two months, Callie’s mobility regressed from being a determined, adventurous two-year-old chasing after her big sister, to a wobbly toddler struggling to keep her balance, climb stairs, and feed herself. Watching her frustration and pain, without the ability to understand or explain what is happening, is heartbreaking. Her moments of laughter—now fewer—are more precious than gold.
The weeks ahead will involve near-daily hospital visits, with radiation administered under anesthetic five days a week for six weeks at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver. This will stretch the family between their home in Abbotsford and treatments in Vancouver.
This GoFundMe campaign is intended to ease the financial strain of living expenses during this season. Sheri has already transitioned from her full-time job as a pre-school teacher to a caregiving leave, and Cam continues to live with limitations from his own brain tumor experience four years ago. Your support will allow them to focus fully on Callie’s increased care needs, and on making the most of the time they have together.
We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and love that Cam and Sheri have received thus far. It has been greatly appreciated. Please continue to keep Cam, Sheri, Molly and Callie in your prayers. Regular updates will be posted in the Callie’s Team facebook group.
But symptoms kept worsening. Concerned but not seriously worried, Cam and Sheri took Callie to the emergency department at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. After tests and a CT scan, they were told that Callie had a large mass in a difficult-to-reach area of her brain. An MRI the next day confirmed a large tumor extending into the thalami and hypothalamus. A surgical biopsy, done through the left side of her brain, identified it as a diffuse midline glioma (H3K27 altered)—a rare, very aggressive, grade 4 tumor for which there is no cure. The only medical intervention is palliative radiation, which may slow the tumor’s progression and extend her prognosis to 6-12 months.
The news has been devastating. In just two months, Callie’s mobility regressed from being a determined, adventurous two-year-old chasing after her big sister, to a wobbly toddler struggling to keep her balance, climb stairs, and feed herself. Watching her frustration and pain, without the ability to understand or explain what is happening, is heartbreaking. Her moments of laughter—now fewer—are more precious than gold.
The weeks ahead will involve near-daily hospital visits, with radiation administered under anesthetic five days a week for six weeks at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver. This will stretch the family between their home in Abbotsford and treatments in Vancouver.
This GoFundMe campaign is intended to ease the financial strain of living expenses during this season. Sheri has already transitioned from her full-time job as a pre-school teacher to a caregiving leave, and Cam continues to live with limitations from his own brain tumor experience four years ago. Your support will allow them to focus fully on Callie’s increased care needs, and on making the most of the time they have together.
We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and love that Cam and Sheri have received thus far. It has been greatly appreciated. Please continue to keep Cam, Sheri, Molly and Callie in your prayers. Regular updates will be posted in the Callie’s Team facebook group.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cam Guenther
Beneficiary