Journey with Jordan in his Fight for Life

On December 12th, 2018 just before Christmas my sister’s nine year old twin boy, Jordan, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain tumor found at the base of the brain.  They are glial tumors, meaning they arise from the brains glial tissue - tissue made up of cells that help support and protect the brain’s neurons.  It is a rare and fatal pediatric brain tumor that mainly affects children under 10 years of age.  Approximately 300 children – usually between 5 and 9 years old – are diagnosed with DIPG every year.  There is still no effective treatment and only 10% of children with DIPG survive for 2 years following their diagnosis, and less than 1% survive for 5 years.  The median survival time is 9 months from diagnosis. The doctors at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles told my sister that there is no cure for this horrific disease.  As a mother, no parent should have to hear this kind of terrible news. From one day to the next my sister and her boy’s lives have changed for the worst as they begun a nightmare of a journey.  Jordan immediately began radiation treatment to try and shrink the tumor not to cure the disease but to maybe prolong his life as much as possible.  So my sister began the arduous task of daily trips to the hospital; up at 5:00 AM for the drive from Whittier to Hollywood and back for the treatment that leaves Jordy exhausted, then to work and back leaving him with a babysitter to look after while she’s at her work.  Home by 7:00 PM, she makes dinner for Jordy and his twin brother Jeremy, spends what little time is left in the day with the twins, and then sleeps until it’s time to start the process again early the next day. My sister’s life has been so hectic and draining since all this has started, as she has her own medical issues to contend with as well.  Our goal is to raise money so that she can eventually stay home with the twins and be by Jordy’s side 24/7 to care for him.  The funds raised will go to possible alternative treatments and any medical bills that Medi-Cal doesn’t cover.  So to all our family members and friends and to anyone else who can sympathize with a parents grief please have an open mind and heart about making a donation to this precious cause while we fight for Jordy’s life.  If you cannot donate money, please pray for his comfort, healing, and a cure.   We appreciate and are grateful and thankful for all your support. There is nothing that the Lord can’t do, we pray that Jordy will be that miracle. Christina Lucero - Jordan's Aunt