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Yesterday my sister and brother-in-law were given news that no parent ever wants to hear. My beautiful 6 year old niece Sophia has a tumor on her brain and it is cancer.
For about a month Sophia has had severe vision changes and saw an eye doctor who gave her glasses. The glasses helped a little but still didn’t have her vision close to normal. Last week Sophia started getting really severe headaches and came to the point that she was getting physically ill so my sister took her to the ER. The ER doctors did a CT scan and found the tumor in the center of her brain. She was taken by ambulance an hour away to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.
Sophia has been in the PICU at the Children’s hospital since April 30. They have done a battery of tests. She endured brain surgery to place a shunt/drain from her brain that empties into her stomach to help alleviate pressure on her brain. This is a shunt that she will have forever. She has IV’s in her neck and arms, they have done a spinal tap and several other tests. Her team of doctors is struggling to regulate her sodium and potassium levels. At this point Sophia isn’t able to eat or really drink on her own and is very lethargic and scared.
Yesterday my sister and brother-in-law sat with the team of doctors and were told that what our sweet Sophia has is Nongerminomatous Germ cell tumor mixed with a germ cell tumor. These tumors are cancerous and can be found only in the brain and spinal cord. Tests indicate right now that it has not spread to her spinal cord but future scans will monitor that and watch for it. She has to start a very intensive round of chemotherapy (approximately 5 months) and then will start an intensive round of radiation in hopes to shrink the tumor and stop any growth.
Today, May 6, Sophia will have a feeding tube placed, long-term, to help nourish her as she cannot take in anything on her own. She will also begin her first round of chemo.
My family are not the type that would ever ask for help although we would be the first in line to help others in need. It is not easy for us to ask for help, but along with prayers it is unavoidable. My sister has been at the hospital 24/7 with Sophia and my brother-in-law has been making the 2 hour round trip every day to see her and bring her two younger siblings to see her. They are also in the process of trying to get health insurance, because at this time they do not have any. All of this is adding a financial component to their already exhausted mental and physical state.
Currently I am able to be in Pennsylvania to be with my sister for at least a few more days with my mom and step-father. We all live in Vermont and are struggling to figure out how to be there for my sister and my niece but also maintain our responsibilities at home.
This is going to be a long road for them and anything that anyone can do to help us ease that burden would be greatly appreciated. Please if you can’t give, pray for Sophia, and share this to get it out there as much as possible. Any help at all will be appreciated more than words could ever express.
For about a month Sophia has had severe vision changes and saw an eye doctor who gave her glasses. The glasses helped a little but still didn’t have her vision close to normal. Last week Sophia started getting really severe headaches and came to the point that she was getting physically ill so my sister took her to the ER. The ER doctors did a CT scan and found the tumor in the center of her brain. She was taken by ambulance an hour away to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.
Sophia has been in the PICU at the Children’s hospital since April 30. They have done a battery of tests. She endured brain surgery to place a shunt/drain from her brain that empties into her stomach to help alleviate pressure on her brain. This is a shunt that she will have forever. She has IV’s in her neck and arms, they have done a spinal tap and several other tests. Her team of doctors is struggling to regulate her sodium and potassium levels. At this point Sophia isn’t able to eat or really drink on her own and is very lethargic and scared.
Yesterday my sister and brother-in-law sat with the team of doctors and were told that what our sweet Sophia has is Nongerminomatous Germ cell tumor mixed with a germ cell tumor. These tumors are cancerous and can be found only in the brain and spinal cord. Tests indicate right now that it has not spread to her spinal cord but future scans will monitor that and watch for it. She has to start a very intensive round of chemotherapy (approximately 5 months) and then will start an intensive round of radiation in hopes to shrink the tumor and stop any growth.
Today, May 6, Sophia will have a feeding tube placed, long-term, to help nourish her as she cannot take in anything on her own. She will also begin her first round of chemo.
My family are not the type that would ever ask for help although we would be the first in line to help others in need. It is not easy for us to ask for help, but along with prayers it is unavoidable. My sister has been at the hospital 24/7 with Sophia and my brother-in-law has been making the 2 hour round trip every day to see her and bring her two younger siblings to see her. They are also in the process of trying to get health insurance, because at this time they do not have any. All of this is adding a financial component to their already exhausted mental and physical state.
Currently I am able to be in Pennsylvania to be with my sister for at least a few more days with my mom and step-father. We all live in Vermont and are struggling to figure out how to be there for my sister and my niece but also maintain our responsibilities at home.
This is going to be a long road for them and anything that anyone can do to help us ease that burden would be greatly appreciated. Please if you can’t give, pray for Sophia, and share this to get it out there as much as possible. Any help at all will be appreciated more than words could ever express.