Love For Lily Kate
Donation protected
A Cure for Lily:
In December of 2015, our 5 year old daughter, Lily, was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or DIPG. In one terrifying evening, we went from a family with a spunky little girl who could do second grade math in her head, to a family facing the fact that the same little girl might not ever get to start Kindergarten.
DIPG is a type of tumor found in the brainstem that primarily affects children. Most DIPG diagnoses occur between 5 and 7 years of age. Because of their location, DIPGs interrupt many of the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate; ultimately causing severe disabilities and death. Unfortunately, the prognosis for children with DIPG remains very poor. The average life expectancy of a child with this terrible cancer is 11 months.
Lily today and in the future:
Lily is your typical 5 year old girl who loves to draw pictures of her family, go to jumpy houses and watch cartoons. She loves playing dress up, horsing around with her sister Emma and cousins, going to preschool, “Daddy Daughter Donut Day”, and tea parties! While now she is a rambunctious child that’s eager to play, she is already showing signs of weakness due to this unfair sentence she has been given.
Our Lily has been undergoing radiation since Dec 29th and is participating in a clinical trial at Texas Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, there have not been any U.S. clinical trials to date that have documented any significant benefits to the patient, and this one has proven to be no different. On Monday February 1st, the doctors told us that the trial has been discontinued due to the lack of any evidence that would support a prolonged life.
Determined to find Lily a potentially life-saving therapy, we have reached far and wide across the world to find hope. We have found two pre-trial opportunities in two different countries in which we have requested participation. Even though the results of these trials seem promising, they lack in funding. Therefore, any family that participates in these therapies will have to pay out of pocket for all expenses including procedures, drugs, boarding and extensive overseas travel.
Lily’s last day of radiation will be February 9th 2016 and her first MRI to assess her current state will be the week of February 29th. After this MRI, we will immediately send her medical records to the 2 aforementioned pre-trial teams and we are optimistic that Lily can immediately begin one, if not both, of these treatments.
Please help support our urgent, lifesaving mission.
Your donations will go directly to Lily’s medical expenses. Any remaining funds will be donated directly to another family fighting DIPG.
Deepest Thanks,
Justin and Amy Elder
In December of 2015, our 5 year old daughter, Lily, was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or DIPG. In one terrifying evening, we went from a family with a spunky little girl who could do second grade math in her head, to a family facing the fact that the same little girl might not ever get to start Kindergarten.
DIPG is a type of tumor found in the brainstem that primarily affects children. Most DIPG diagnoses occur between 5 and 7 years of age. Because of their location, DIPGs interrupt many of the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate; ultimately causing severe disabilities and death. Unfortunately, the prognosis for children with DIPG remains very poor. The average life expectancy of a child with this terrible cancer is 11 months.
Lily today and in the future:
Lily is your typical 5 year old girl who loves to draw pictures of her family, go to jumpy houses and watch cartoons. She loves playing dress up, horsing around with her sister Emma and cousins, going to preschool, “Daddy Daughter Donut Day”, and tea parties! While now she is a rambunctious child that’s eager to play, she is already showing signs of weakness due to this unfair sentence she has been given.
Our Lily has been undergoing radiation since Dec 29th and is participating in a clinical trial at Texas Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, there have not been any U.S. clinical trials to date that have documented any significant benefits to the patient, and this one has proven to be no different. On Monday February 1st, the doctors told us that the trial has been discontinued due to the lack of any evidence that would support a prolonged life.
Determined to find Lily a potentially life-saving therapy, we have reached far and wide across the world to find hope. We have found two pre-trial opportunities in two different countries in which we have requested participation. Even though the results of these trials seem promising, they lack in funding. Therefore, any family that participates in these therapies will have to pay out of pocket for all expenses including procedures, drugs, boarding and extensive overseas travel.
Lily’s last day of radiation will be February 9th 2016 and her first MRI to assess her current state will be the week of February 29th. After this MRI, we will immediately send her medical records to the 2 aforementioned pre-trial teams and we are optimistic that Lily can immediately begin one, if not both, of these treatments.
Please help support our urgent, lifesaving mission.
Your donations will go directly to Lily’s medical expenses. Any remaining funds will be donated directly to another family fighting DIPG.
Deepest Thanks,
Justin and Amy Elder
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Pierce Elder
Organizer
Friendswood, TX
Justin Elder
Beneficiary