Robin's Fight: A Seven-Year-Old's Unexpected Journey

We want to take a moment to share an important chapter of our lives with you—a story of resilience, hope, and love. It’s the story of our sweet Robin, her unexpected journey, and the incredible strength she has shown throughout.

It all began with subtle signs that something wasn’t right. Robin, always so lively and independent, started having trouble doing little things, like putting on her great-grandma’s earrings—her hands trembled too much. She became bruised from falls, frustrated easily, and walked a little funny. By Halloween, her headache had lasted for days, and her usual spark seemed dimmed. We knew something wasn’t normal, but we didn’t expect what came next.

On a Friday, Robin’s tumbling coach noticed she wasn’t herself and called for her to be picked up. Great-Grandma came to the rescue, gave her Tylenol, and comforted her until she fell asleep curled up on the dog bed. When Britnee came home and saw her, she decided to take Robin to the ER despite the front desk insisting it was "just a headache." Thankfully, Dr. Grose—Robin’s regular doctor—was on call that night. He trusted his instincts, recognizing that Robin wasn’t herself, and ordered a CT scan. That decision changed everything.

The results were life-altering: a 37mm tumor in the fourth ventricle of her brain. In a child’s brain, that’s enormous. What followed was a whirlwind of phone calls, decisions, and preparations. At Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Robin underwent an MRI and then a six-hour surgery early Sunday morning to remove the tumor. Those were some of the hardest days of our lives.

The days after surgery were a blur of challenges and triumphs. The recovery in the PICU was fraught with its own set of struggles. There were moments when care wasn’t what it should have been, and seeing Robin endure that was heartbreaking. Yet, through it all, her spirit remained unbroken. Even after a traumatic experience with an ICU nurse, she showed incredible courage, refusing to use a diaper and insisting on using a bedpan like the big kid she is. Her determination shone brighter than ever.

Physical therapy started with small victories—a short wheelchair ride that left her exhausted. But soon, Robin was eager to leave her room, excited for every trip to the therapy playroom or the slushy machine. She vomited, struggled, and rested, but every day, she came back stronger. By the time she climbed four stairs—a requirement to go home—she almost ran. Watching her kick a therapy ball and laugh again reminded us how far she had come.

After 11 days in the hospital, Robin came home. While she still has some challenges with balance and memory, she is improving every day with the help of the incredible teams from surgery, oncology, and therapy. Her therapists from Rehab Without Walls now visit her at home, school, or even the playground, helping her regain her strength and independence. Robin can’t return to school just yet, as her incision needs to heal to prevent infection, but she is excited for the day she can join her classmates again.

We are still waiting for the final diagnosis of her tumor, but we know the journey isn’t over. Whether the tumor was benign or malignant, we face the possibility of chemo and radiation to ensure it doesn’t return. Yet, through all of this uncertainty, Robin’s resilience gives us hope. She is surrounded by a village of love—her family, her doctors, her therapists, and all of you who keep her in your thoughts.

Thank you for being part of her story, for the prayers and kind words, and for the love you’ve shared with us during this time. Robin is our hero, and her journey reminds us of the strength we all carry within. Together, we will continue to celebrate her victories, no matter how small, and support her every step of the way.

If you wish to donate with out the fees, Britnee's PayPal and Venmo codes/links are below:

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3406578518589440886&created=1731899728