I am trying to come up with the words on behalf of my best friend, her husband and their family to say something no one ever wants to hear, their sweet baby girl has cancer. Vivienne McDonnell, 2 years old has cancer. The words don’t seem real. Sweet Vivi has been diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is a rare, aggressive childhood cancer.

This is sweet Viv just one month before her diagnosis.

Vivienne McDonnell is the youngest of 6. The sweet, funny, bright eyed Peach is loved endlessly by her 5 older brothers.

Her parents Robyn and James McDonnell are now faced with an unimaginable reality. Their family’s world and lives have changed.

I am starting this fundraiser to try and help the McDonnell family in the hardest fight their family has faced. Vivienne’s treatments will inevitably strip her of the ability to have her own family one day. In an effort to preserve her chances to make this choice one day, there are steep costs associated with keeping her options available to her. Additionally there are many costs and hurdles ahead for their family. With her Mama, Robyn by her side every moment and her Dad, James at the hospital as much as possible still has to work as well. This leaves their five boys in need of childcare. I know that any contribution to help make their fight a little easier will be appreciated beyond measure.

I would like to include some additional information about miss Vivienne’s cancer diagnosis and treatment below.

On July 23 -Vivienne’s parents 17th Wedding Anniversary

Robyn, Vivi’s Mom took her in to see the doctor as she had significant bruising and discolouration around both of her eyes. On that day, it was discovered that Vivi likely had cancer. Within the next two days, Vivi underwent a barrage og tests to determine the cancer type and where the cancer had spread.

On Friday July 25

The doctors were able to successfully get a sample from her biopsy to best determine the chemo program. While the confirmation of her cancer type did not come until July 30th, all signs pointed to a very aggressive form [Stage 4] of Neuroblastoma which has now been confirmed as such. Vivi had a very large tumour in between her heart and her spine, the cancer has also spread into the soft tissue around her eyes, bone marrow and skull.

On Saturdat July 26

Vivi started having serious mobility issues and over the two days, she became completely immobile and could no longer use her legs. At 5am on Tuedsay July 29, Vivi was rushed into emergency surgery [4.5hrs] to reduce the compression on her spine caused by the tumour. At this point, minutes mattered for the doctors to perform the surgery as this would have caused life long paralysis if not treated urgently and successfully.

Vivi had a successful surgery to reduce the pressure on her spine and the doctors are optomistic of her ability to regain full function in her legs. As a consequence of this surgery, it has delayed commencing her chemo treatments as she needs to heal from the surgery. This will delay chemo by an estimated 7-14 days so her body can properly heal.

Vivi is expected to have multiple chemo treatments, surgery to remove the tumor, radiation and immunotherapy over the next 24 months. With a successful implementation of these treatments, the doctors have estimated a 50 - 60% success rate of long-term survival.