Help Brooklyn Fight Relapsed Rhabdomyosarcoma
Donación protegida
On October 28th, 2020, after a month of battling what everyone thought was pneumonia, we received the devastating news that our then 9 year old daughter Brooklyn had cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage 3, Group 3 Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS). Her primary tumor was located in her right lung, which was an extremely rare location for Rhabdomyosarcoma to first appear. There were only 31 documented cases like this worldwide, with Brooklyn being number 31. After numerous scans, biopsies and surgeries, she began her chemotherapy treatment on November 9th, 2020. Her treatment plan consisted of 1 year of intense chemotherapy followed by 6 months of maintenance chemotherapy, 6 weeks of daily radiation, and surgery to remove her tumor. She was hospitalized many times and spent most of the first few months inpatient due to different illnesses. She lost over 30 lbs. in the first two months and had to have a feeding tube surgically placed so she could get enough nutrition. In January of 2021, Brooklyn started to develop neuropathy in her feet, a side effect from one of the chemotherapy medications she was receiving. The neuropathy had then caused her to have foot drop and eventually she could no longer walk and became wheelchair bound. Treatment was a very long and painful process to say the least, however Brooklyn stayed strong and fought like a true warrior. Thankfully, in March of 2022 Brooklyn was officially in remission and she had finished her treatment. She worked hard with physical therapists and she learned to walk with some assistance and she no longer was stuck in her wheelchair. In August of 2022, Brooklyn celebrated her 11th Birthday and after being out of school for almost two years, Brooklyn was finally able to go back to school and be a normal kid again. She was doing great, making new friends and she really enjoyed being a 5th grader. Sadly on November 4th, 2022, 6 months after finishing treatment and only two months after being back in school, we got the heartbreaking news that Brooklyn had relapsed. Her tumor had grown back in the same location, her right lung.
She started a new chemotherapy regimen on November 14th 2022 and after 3 rounds her latest set of scans are showing great improvement. . The tumor has shrunk to less than half of its size. It’s metabolic activity has decreased significantly as well.
On January 27th, 2023 Brooklyn will be having a surgery called Extrapleural Pneumonectomy with Cryoablation. Surgeons will be removing Brooklyn’s tumor along with her right lung, the lining of the lung and the lining of the chest wall. She may lose a rib as well because they have to enter through the rib cage. She will have the head pediatric surgeon working on her lung and a cardiac surgeon will be working on separating the blood vessels and arteries that connect her heart to her lung. This is a major surgery, it’s actually going to be her biggest yet.
After Brooklyn’s surgery, she will be continuing with her chemotherapy regimen and she will soon start radiation therapy once again. We are not yet sure how long she will be in treatment, however we anticipate that she will be getting chemotherapy for quite some time.
We have started this GoFundMe to try and help offset the cost of treatment related expenses such as travel to and from appointments, meals during hospital stays/infusion days, medical supplies/medications for Brooklyn that are not covered under insurance and to help pay any household bills that arise while we take this time to care for Brooklyn. Donations will also be used help us get some much needed maintenance on our vehicle as we have put a massive amount of mileage on it by just traveling to and from all of her appointments. We appreciate any donations, no matter how big or how small your donation will help alleviate the financial stress associated with a childhood cancer diagnosis so we can focus solely on Brooklyn’s recovery. If you are not in the position to contribute monetarily, then please pray for our little girl. Please pray for the surgeons and doctors that are caring for her. Pray that she will beat this cancer once and for all and be able to live a long healthy life. We thank you all for your prayers and support during this difficult time and we truly love and appreciate each and every one of you.
Organizador
Diana McDaniel
Organizador
Gastonia, NC