Mia's continued cancer treatment

It is truly hard to ask for help, but the Zinn Family is 1½ years into their battle against the bone cancer (Ewing Sarcoma) that is ravaging Mia’s 17-year-old body & their lives. Thanks to your financial contributions, the typical anxiety that accompanies the financial strife of a cancer battle has been absent from their lives for the past year. They are deeply grateful for your generosity & support; however, expenses have dwindled down the fund & they need continued help.

Life has been a rollercoaster for Chris, Aubrey, Mia & Austin since the diagnosis in September 2021. One day they are enjoying a moment of their “new normalcy” & then that night Mia’s back in the hospital. The juggling then begins as to who stays with Mia & who handles the home front with Austin & who doesn’t make it to work the next day. As their war against cancer rages on, so too comes the devastating reality that the financial crisis that cancer brings will always coexist with Mia’s valiant battle.

Mia’s been an inpatient in the hospital for approximately 6 weeks since this all began, plus copious late-night ER visits for fevers. Parking is $10-15 a day, and they are often there 3-4 days a week. We don’t even know how much they spend on medications - it is a decent amount, but the GoFundMe donations have meant they don’t have to budget for/ worry about meds: Mia always gets what she needs. But then there are countless scans, lab tests, copays…you get the picture.

Chris and Aubrey cannot affect the medical side, so they are laser-focused on Mia’s mental health. They try to always have something she can look forward to such as tickets to a show, a trip to Hershey Park, getting her nails done, or time at the beach. These distractions are opportunities for some joy in their lives & help to nurture the mental health of the whole family.

Despite the pain, fatigue, discouragement & fear, Mia managed to write a book of poetry about her journey – to help herself cope & support other children suffering from cancer. The Make-A-Wish Foundation published the book & a grant provided the means for a book launch & signing in November. For a few shining hours, Mia, her family, & a host of supporters were able to forget about the battle and revel in Mia’s indomitable spirit!

This precious child has so much more to offer our world, & we ask you to share this message with as many people as you can – we want to support their fight, to support this family, to take one thing off their unimaginably overburdened shoulders. Thank you for your past support & any way you can assist the Zinn Family now.