Join Mila's Journey to Beat Cancer

Our daughter Mila has been diagnosed with a rare cancer called embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. This is our story and our fight.

It all started with stomach pain on New Year’s Eve. After multiple weeks of ER and doctor’s visits, her pain was too much to ignore. I knew in my heart something was very wrong. I watch my baby girl become so sad and withdrawn. She was rapidly losing weight. This time I wouldn’t leave the ER until I had an answer, and then there it was. A large mass was discovered in her abdomen 8x5cm large.

We were immediately transferred to UCLA Children’s Hospital for extensive work up and care. As anyone can even begin to imagine, this is every parent’s worst nightmare. Our whole world just fell out from beneath our feet. Time for us has been frozen in place. After a week and half in the hospital to complete imaging, staging, and to begin treatment, we are now in the battle to beat this tumor.

Mila is currently undergoing chemotherapy. She receives one chemotherapy once a week and on the third week, she gets a heavy 3 dose of chemo requiring us to be hospitalized for 48 hours for monitoring. Because she becomes so immunocompromised after the 3 dose, she is at severe risk for infection or sepsis and any fever requires immediate hospitalization. In approximately 10 weeks she will get new imaging to see how much the tumor has shrunk and possibly at that time schedule surgery for excision. Total treatment is slated for 46 weeks since the start, so this is a long road but she can and will be healthy again!

Our family knows how much love and support we all have and we appreciate every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. We have been blown away with all the love and prayer and support we have already received. Many have asked how else they can help. Above all we continue to ask for prayers for our family and especially for strength, resilience, and peaceful spirit in Mila from the Lord. That being said, we appreciate any other support anyone is willing to give us during this long fight that we will win! I have been and will continue to be by her side every step of the way and that means I cannot work for the time being. Any funds will helps us to pay for gas, parking, food, and any unforeseen bills that may arise due to Mila’s ongoing treatment. Thank you and God Bless.