Mya’s Journey #MyaStrong

My name is Jessica and I wanted to take a moment to introduce someone who is very special to me. My niece Mya is your ‘typical’ teenager: Full of life, adventurous, silly, caring and kind. As a 14-year-old, halfway through her 8th Grade year at Immaculate Conception, Mya has been part of the Archery Team, Dance and is gearing up for her 2nd spring musical!

 

In between all of Mya’s activities, her mom Jodi’s involvement in multiple church and school functions, her dad’s role as Sergeant at Black Hawk County, Mya still even finds time to attend her brother Colton’s Baseball games.

 

The life of a ‘typical’ 8th grader.

 

Like most of us, Mya has a few things that aren’t so typical. 

 

When Mya was getting ready to start 3rd grade, unexplained illness and Dr. visits led the Bauwens to U of I Children’s Hospital. This full of life, adventurous kid was gearing up for a battle. Mya didn’t know it yet, but this battle was a brain tumor. Now, we need to get one thing straight: Mya. Is. Brave. This battle not only would conclude with surgery, Mya would miss activities, friends and a lot of typical 3rd grade things. Doctors had to shave Mya’s head for this battle. Mya was brave.

 

After 2 weeks in the PICU, the Brain tumor was removed. Mya had to have shunt placed due to damage caused by the tumor being so large. The tumor was noncancerous. 

 

Mya had made it through the battle. She may have looked a little different, but she was strong and ready to get back to all those ‘typical’ things.

 

Mya maintained routine visits to the U of I and all prognosis’ we’re uplifting. The last routine visit was November 2021. Mya’s doctors noticed something not so ‘typical’.

What does that mean for Mya? Another battle. The tumor had grown back. Through the bustle of the Holidays, Mya remained brave and on February 16th, doctors determined a 2nd brain surgery was needed to remove the growing tumor.

 

While the U of I doctor’s felt that the surgery should happen in short order, ‘typical’, brave Mya requested to wait until April…This way Mya could kick butt with the Don’s at State Archery and be part of the school musical.

 

‘Typical’, brave Mya.

 

So, our ‘typical’ full of life, adventurous, silly, caring and kind 14-year-old will battle brain surgery on April 5th. I know how hard this was for me to write. I also know how hard it was for Mya’s parents to allow me to write this and introduce you. Mya’s parents work hard. They will be with Mya every step of this battle. Me introducing you to Mya and telling you her story, is simply my way to open an avenue to support Mya and her battle.

 

It’s still so hard to gather and show support through meals and benefits. I hope that this introduction to Mya not only answers your personal question of ‘how can I help’ but leaves you with a sense of Hope. 

 

Finally, thank you for letting me introduce you to my niece Mya…your ‘typical’ 14 year old 8th grader who happens to be battling her second brain tumor in less than 6 years.