Help America with her cancer
Donation protected
Last year, the parents of one year old America were playing with her on the bed when they noticed the pupil in her left eye was misshapen and decided to take her to CHOC hospital urgent care to make sure she was okay. After checking in they spent hours seeing multiple doctors who were unable to determine the cause before an optometrist called and said he would be in to see another patient and asked if they would be willing to wait another 30 minutes so he could check on America.
After the initial evaluation in urgent care the doctor thought it would be best if they came to see him at his office the following day where he would be able to get a better look with specialized equipment. He said he would open early for her and sent them home instructing them to come back at 9 am the following morning.
The next day little America went in for her first formal eye exam where she was given multiple vision assessments, had pictures taken using ultrasound, and was given eye dilation drops then examined by two doctors who both said they saw solid masses inside each of her eyes and recommended she be driven to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles immediately to see an ophthalmologist by the name of Dr. Kim.
Once there she was immediately seen by the doctor and his staff and after a quick exam was officially diagnosed with retinoblastoma and more specifically “bilateral retinoblastoma” a rare cancer in both of her eyes affecting less than 1 in 56,000 per year. They learned Dr. Kim was a leading doctor in the research and treatment of Retinoblastoma, and because of his prestige, deals with patients like 1 year old America regularly. Once this exam and conversation was over she was admitted to inpatient oncology and had an exam under anesthesia where they determined the tumor in her left eye was highly advanced and filling roughly 50% of the volume of her eye and the tumor in her right eye trailing just behind.
She started treatment immediately and has been undergoing an intense regimen of chemotherapy for the past six months at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles however the battle is not over and much more medical treatment is required to battle this cancer. She has lost most of her hair and has reactions to the treatment but she is a tough kid that is giving it her all.
We are asking for financial gifts to help with medical expenses that include surgeries, scans and x-rays, hospital stay, and future medical and rehabilitative costs. We would like to take the financial burden out of the picture for her parents, Trevor and Alison. We thank all our friends, family, work associates and strangers for their thoughts, love, prayers and any gifts and kind messages. We appreciate and thank you all!
After the initial evaluation in urgent care the doctor thought it would be best if they came to see him at his office the following day where he would be able to get a better look with specialized equipment. He said he would open early for her and sent them home instructing them to come back at 9 am the following morning.
The next day little America went in for her first formal eye exam where she was given multiple vision assessments, had pictures taken using ultrasound, and was given eye dilation drops then examined by two doctors who both said they saw solid masses inside each of her eyes and recommended she be driven to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles immediately to see an ophthalmologist by the name of Dr. Kim.
Once there she was immediately seen by the doctor and his staff and after a quick exam was officially diagnosed with retinoblastoma and more specifically “bilateral retinoblastoma” a rare cancer in both of her eyes affecting less than 1 in 56,000 per year. They learned Dr. Kim was a leading doctor in the research and treatment of Retinoblastoma, and because of his prestige, deals with patients like 1 year old America regularly. Once this exam and conversation was over she was admitted to inpatient oncology and had an exam under anesthesia where they determined the tumor in her left eye was highly advanced and filling roughly 50% of the volume of her eye and the tumor in her right eye trailing just behind.
She started treatment immediately and has been undergoing an intense regimen of chemotherapy for the past six months at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles however the battle is not over and much more medical treatment is required to battle this cancer. She has lost most of her hair and has reactions to the treatment but she is a tough kid that is giving it her all.
We are asking for financial gifts to help with medical expenses that include surgeries, scans and x-rays, hospital stay, and future medical and rehabilitative costs. We would like to take the financial burden out of the picture for her parents, Trevor and Alison. We thank all our friends, family, work associates and strangers for their thoughts, love, prayers and any gifts and kind messages. We appreciate and thank you all!
Organizer and beneficiary
David Bergman
Organizer
Santa Ana, CA
Trevor Bergman
Beneficiary