Piper Deblack

Piper was born with a Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT) - Type IV.   At 4 days old Piper had surgery to remove the SCT, her tailbone and additional margins. Unfortunately the biopsy confirmed that everything removed had tumor markers/cells on them.  Since then her care team - surgical team, primary care physician and oncologist team - have been tracking her progress and monitoring her closely with physical exams, MRI's, CT and blood work. They have been tracking her Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker via blood work. Just before Christmas Piper's blood work confirmed that her tumor has recurred. The MRI shows a small tumor (.7cm x .5cm x .7cm) growing at the anterior Sacroiliac Joint - the junction of her sacrum and L5 vertebra. Because of the location and size surgery to remove the tumor is not a good option. Piper will undergo chemotherapy starting mid January 2020. Chemotherapy will last until April 2020.  While getting chemotherapy she will be an inpatient and during her recovery weeks she will be staying home instead of attending daycare. Her family will be seeing increased medical expenses and a loss in pay while they take time off to care for her.

We have watched our precious Piper grow into an amazing, vibrant, energetic, smart, happy, strong, curious and loving little girl.  Her entire extended family is heartbroken over the news and each of us would gladly take her place in a heartbeat if it was possible. This has been such an emotional time for all of us.  We are asking that people pray for Piper - Pray that the treatments work and permanently cure her, pray that she has no permanent side effects - hearing loss or secondary cancer - and pray that she comes out of this as a strong, healthy, happy and loving little girl.

Thank you for reading her story, for your generous gift but more importantly thank you for every prayer you say on her behalf.