On Sunday, August 31st, my eight-year old niece, Haven, started becoming disoriented and stumbling during a family camping trip. Her parents, Mark and Jerica, rushed her to the local ER. Within hours, Haven was life flighted to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh where a MRI confirmed a parent's worst nightmare. Haven was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, an aggressive, inoperable cancerous tumor in her brainstem that has no cure. Haven is to start 30 rounds of radiation over the next six weeks at a children's hospital over two hours away from home. Decisions are still being made for follow up treatment after radiation. The purpose of the radiation is to shrink the tumor and offer relief from the neurological symptoms Haven is already experiencing. DIPG only affects 100 to 300 children each year in the United States, making it incredibly rare. There are not many available treatment options and the most promising are located on the other side of the country.

Haven is a second grader who loves her friends, her two dogs, Stella and Elsa (aka "Big Booty"), and her sisters, Harleigh, Madisyn, and Mylei. She is an avid dancer, having started classes as a toddler, and aspires to be a cheerleader when she grows up. Haven is the life of the party and always the first one to throw a peace sign up for group photos. She is a social butterfly and loves everything Disney. Anyone who knows Haven, knows she is the sweetest, friendliest little girl you will ever meet. Our family cannot imagine a future with Haven not in it.

This diagnosis has caused complete devastation to our family. At this point, the future is unknown, and we are taking things day by day. As we navigate our "new normal", we want to come together as a community to alleviate the financial strain on Haven's family during this difficult time. Mark and Jerica are both self employed so there is no paid time off, FMLA, Critical Illness Insurance, or Life Insurance available. Mark is an over the road truck driver. He is not able to work and leave his little girl for an undetermined amount of time. Haven went from a happy, rambunctious child to needing assistance with all daily activities in less than a week. Haven is unable to walk without aid and is now wheelchair bound. No family should ever have to face a heartbreak like this.

All donations will go directly to Mark and Jerica to help them with daily living expenses, additional travel expenses, and treatment costs during Haven's cancer journey. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

If you are unable to give monetary support, please keep Haven and her family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time of so many unknowns. Thank you for your support.

This is the one and only online fundraiser for Haven approved by her parents. All funds go directly to Haven, Mark, and Jerica.