Support Niav and her Family

On March 31, 2024 celebrating Easter Sunday, Niav was enjoying some time with her cousins jumping on the trampoline. Many parents fear the risks that come with injuries occurring on a trampoline, but in Niav’s case this was a life saving experience. Niav began feeling discomfort throughout the month of April with the pain progressively getting worse. Thinking this could have been a result of jumping on the trampoline, Niav was seen by her primary care doctor.

Niav is a 4th grade student at Grant Elementary and was looking forward to enjoying all of the end-of-the-year activities with her friends. Instead, Niav was unable to attend the rest of the school year due to her extreme discomfort and pain.

By May 8th, with no improvement and increased pain, Niav celebrated her 10th birthday with a sports medicine doctor and XRays.

Within the next few days and recommendations of at-home physical therapy, Niav was unable to walk. With no conclusive results from the XRay, this lead Niav to see Dr. Rothstein, a Pediatric Neurosurgeon with University Hospitals on May 23rd. Dr. Rothstein ordered brain and neck MRI’s immediately. Upon reading the MRI results, Dr. Rothstein insisted that Niav receive blood work. Within hours of visiting the lab, Niav was admitted to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital due to a low white blood cell count. Niav underwent a bone marrow retrieval on May 24th. The results of this procedure indicated leukemia and treatment.

Over the long weekend, a team of courageous doctors supported Niav and her parents through creating a treatment plan. On May 28th, just days after celebrating Niav’s 10th birthday, there was a confirmed diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). On the same day, Niav underwent another surgery to administer a chemo port and treatment began immediately.

This has devastated our entire family, but especially Niav’s parents and her 4 siblings. There’s a long road ahead with treatments and unknowns, which has left my sister Cate, Niav’s mom, unable to operate her business for the unforeseeable future. The plan is to take this one day at a time with Niav’s health being the only priority.

Niav will remain in the care of the expert specialists at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital for the next month at minimum. We are confident that Niav is receiving the absolute best care there is to offer, but are aware of the extreme side effects caused by chemotherapy. With her parents by her side every step of the way, we’re hoping to provide some comfort and support for Niav, her parents, and her 4 siblings in the months to come.

Niav is so strong. She is inspiring us everyday with her strength as she navigates this difficult journey at a very young age.

Any donation will be appreciated tremendously, and of course any kind thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement are always welcome.

Thank you