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Jaylin Mataya's Memorial Service


Jaylin is an incredibly bright, loving and beautiful child with an amazing energy that is without comparison. Just last year, she was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor 2 weeks before her 5th birthday. She endured 5 months of chemotherapy and continued to decline at a rapid pace. Jaylin lost the ability to use the right side of her body, to sit up, walk or talk. 

An MRI showed the chemo wasn't working and Jaylin needed to start radiation immediately. She had 30 radiation treatments over the course of 6 weeks. Her tumor shrank 15-20% and slowly but surely Jaylin started to come back to us. With the help of physical therapy she was soon running and jumping again. She was able to play and be a regular 5 year old, even if for a short time.

Jaylin's radiation follow-up MRI delivered some unfortunate findings. While the brain tumor was stable at that time, the cancer had metastasized to her lower spine. Jaylin subsequently underwent a new course of radiation treatments but she did so with a smile on her face and strength in her heart. She finished radiation for her spine 2 weeks before her 6th birthday.
Memorial weekend 2016, Jaylin started to show symptoms similar to those of the previous year. Her speech was slurred, her balance was off and her energy was depleted.

Another MRI was scheduled and the images confirmed our fears, the tumor in her brain was growing once again. Her oncologist told us it's not responding to treatment the way a diffuse grade II astrocytoma should, so there is a possibility that it is a higher grade than was originally observed in pathology last year. Due to these findings, Jaylin will take part in a clinical trial at All Children's in St. Pete. The treatment is extensive so I ask that all of you please keep Jaylin in your thoughts. She will be receiving IV chemotherapy at the infusion center every day, 5 days a week for an indefinite amount of time depending on results. If this new mixture of drugs works to reduce her tumor, her oncologist suggests she continue treatment for 2-3 years. As you can imagine, this past year has been emotionally, mentally, physically and financially devastating for our family. We are exhausted but we aren't giving up. We will go to the ends of the earth for Jaylin, we just need a little help getting there.
Jaylin's new chemo regimen will be outpatient, meaning we will have to travel 2+ hours a day, 5 days a week for her to receive treatment.  As many of you know, I am a single mother.  My own mother, who has graciously provided us with a roof over our heads for the past year and supported us to the best of her abilities, receives limited income due to disability and illness.  
 
It is not typically in my nature to openly ask others for help, especially financially.  However, I feel that the situation at hand has left me few options. If you can spare, even a few dollars, you would have our eternal gratitude as we navigate through these difficult times. All of the funds raised will go directly to helping our family with gas, food, bills and anything else Jaylin or her treatment may require. I would also like to encourage you join Jaylin in her fight on Facebook and share her story. 

Also, I'm sending Jaylin's medical records to as many hospitals and pediatric neuro-oncologists as I can, hoping someone has more ideas or maybe sees her situation in a different light. If you or a family member or a brother-in-law's second cousin, twice-removed is, or knows anyone in the field, please don't hesitate to send me contact information regarding possible treatment options for my sweet girl. 
 
Thank you all for your love and support!



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  • Anonymous
    • $10 
    • 7 yrs
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Organiser

Shannon McCubbins
Organiser
Palm Harbor, FL

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