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Please join family and friends and help raise money for Samantha's Fight,
Samantha Neiss is a beautiful, intelligent, charismatic 8 year old girl who needs help in the battle to save her life. On Friday October 23, 2020, Samantha was diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma. FHC is an extremely rare, fast spreading type of cancer that started in the liver and has metastasized into her chest cavity between the blood vessels and to her heart. Right now, the tumor in the liver in inoperable. If the doctors can get the tumor in the liver to shrink by chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a series of other treatments that are in discussion, and eliminate the spread of the cancer, Samantha will need a liver transplant in order to save her life. In addition to FHC, Samantha has undergone blood transfusions and Von Willebrand protein infusions.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) in 2012 to parents Jason and Kirsten Neiss, Samantha 8, is the oldest of three children. She is the big sister to Elliot, 6 and Eleanor, 4. Jason is from Lancaster, PA, served 6 years in the United States Air Force and is a recent graduate from PIA. Kirsten is from Wichita, KS, is a graduate from Eric Fisher Academy and is currently a stay at home mom.
In January (2020), after Jason graduated, the family moved from Pittsburgh to Wisconsin where Jason accepted a position at a phenomenal company. They recently purchased a home and were ready to permanently put roots down. While they were on a hike a few weeks ago, discussing with the children what color to paint their bedroom walls and the décor for their bedrooms, they noticed Samantha was walking funny. They stopped Samantha and asked her to turn around. They noticed a bulge from under her ribcage. They took her to the doctor suspecting a hernia, only to be sent for further testing. Testing turned into an MRI, blood work, CT scan, pet scan, blood transfusions, overnight hospital stays, biopsies and also finding out that Samantha is missing the Von Willebrand protein and getting the necessary protein infusions in order to perform the tests. She has needed and will continue to need protein infusions every time bloodwork is ordered and/or a procedure is performed. Until four weeks ago, Samantha was a perfectly healthy 8 year old child that is now being prepped to fight for her life. There were not any signs that Samantha was sick, no one could have guessed that cancer was growing and spreading in this precious child. This is how this type of cancer works, there are not any signs until there are undeniable signs. Samantha’s sign was the large tumor that became noticeable on the family’s hike.
The family is currently working with The Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee which is 2 hours away and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota which is 4 hours away. FHC is so rare that currently there is not a straightforward treatment plan. The only steps that the doctors know is that they need to stop and eliminate the cancer that has spread, shrink the tumor in the liver and perform a liver transplant.
We are asking everyone to donate to the battle of Samantha’s life and the medical expenses that this family will incur. In addition to the growing medical bills, the family will need childcare for the other children and travel expenses to go back and forth for Samantha’s treatment. What has become Samantha’s reality is one that every parent fears for their child. As we are all preparing for the holidays, I ask that everyone please keep this family in their thoughts, prayers, and join in and donate to the battle of Samantha’s life.
We will keep everyone updated on Samantha’s progress. Thank you for the love, prayers, and support in the most difficult time of this child’s life.
Samantha Neiss is a beautiful, intelligent, charismatic 8 year old girl who needs help in the battle to save her life. On Friday October 23, 2020, Samantha was diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma. FHC is an extremely rare, fast spreading type of cancer that started in the liver and has metastasized into her chest cavity between the blood vessels and to her heart. Right now, the tumor in the liver in inoperable. If the doctors can get the tumor in the liver to shrink by chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a series of other treatments that are in discussion, and eliminate the spread of the cancer, Samantha will need a liver transplant in order to save her life. In addition to FHC, Samantha has undergone blood transfusions and Von Willebrand protein infusions.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) in 2012 to parents Jason and Kirsten Neiss, Samantha 8, is the oldest of three children. She is the big sister to Elliot, 6 and Eleanor, 4. Jason is from Lancaster, PA, served 6 years in the United States Air Force and is a recent graduate from PIA. Kirsten is from Wichita, KS, is a graduate from Eric Fisher Academy and is currently a stay at home mom.
In January (2020), after Jason graduated, the family moved from Pittsburgh to Wisconsin where Jason accepted a position at a phenomenal company. They recently purchased a home and were ready to permanently put roots down. While they were on a hike a few weeks ago, discussing with the children what color to paint their bedroom walls and the décor for their bedrooms, they noticed Samantha was walking funny. They stopped Samantha and asked her to turn around. They noticed a bulge from under her ribcage. They took her to the doctor suspecting a hernia, only to be sent for further testing. Testing turned into an MRI, blood work, CT scan, pet scan, blood transfusions, overnight hospital stays, biopsies and also finding out that Samantha is missing the Von Willebrand protein and getting the necessary protein infusions in order to perform the tests. She has needed and will continue to need protein infusions every time bloodwork is ordered and/or a procedure is performed. Until four weeks ago, Samantha was a perfectly healthy 8 year old child that is now being prepped to fight for her life. There were not any signs that Samantha was sick, no one could have guessed that cancer was growing and spreading in this precious child. This is how this type of cancer works, there are not any signs until there are undeniable signs. Samantha’s sign was the large tumor that became noticeable on the family’s hike.
The family is currently working with The Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee which is 2 hours away and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota which is 4 hours away. FHC is so rare that currently there is not a straightforward treatment plan. The only steps that the doctors know is that they need to stop and eliminate the cancer that has spread, shrink the tumor in the liver and perform a liver transplant.
We are asking everyone to donate to the battle of Samantha’s life and the medical expenses that this family will incur. In addition to the growing medical bills, the family will need childcare for the other children and travel expenses to go back and forth for Samantha’s treatment. What has become Samantha’s reality is one that every parent fears for their child. As we are all preparing for the holidays, I ask that everyone please keep this family in their thoughts, prayers, and join in and donate to the battle of Samantha’s life.
We will keep everyone updated on Samantha’s progress. Thank you for the love, prayers, and support in the most difficult time of this child’s life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kirsten Neiss
Beneficiary