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 I watch my baby girl become so sad and withdrawn.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 began the toughest battle of our lives.
Mila completed 30 total seasons of chemotherapy over the course of 46 weeks. She also had extensive surgery in May to remove her tumor in its entirety. The results of that surgery showed no viable tumor cells on pathology, however because the tumor encapsulation was broken open, we opted for Mila to receive radiation of the tumor cavity. Our family stayed in San Diego for an entire month while Mila received 20 total sessions of Proton Radiaton at the California Proton Center in conjunction with Rady Children’s hospital.
Mila competed her last chemotherapy session on December 15th 2025, just in time for Christmas! It was the best possible gift we could have ever received!
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 our time recovering and getting our lives back into a new normal. I have been and will continue to be by her side every step of the way and I will continue to support her every day as much as possible from home. Any funds will helps us to pay for gas, parking, food, and any unforeseen bills that may arise due to our reduced work hours. Thank you and God Bless.