For almost 13 years, our daughter Sophie has been fighting pediatric brain cancer and the long-term complications that come with it. Through every challenge, she has remained unbelievably strong, resilient, and full of life. But right now, she needs help.
Over the past year we have pursued NK cell immunotherapy, a treatment that has helped Sophie continue her fight in a gentler and more targeted way. Unfortunately, these treatments are not covered by insurance. In the last year alone, we have paid $35,000 out of pocket to make sure Sophie could receive this therapy.
Sophie now needs one more NK cell infusion, which will cost another $35,000. This includes the cost of manufacturing the cells, the infusion itself, and the travel required for us to go to Cancun, Mexico, where she must stay for at least four days to complete treatment.
At the same time, Sophie is facing several additional medical challenges.
She will likely need one or possibly two surgeries in the near future. One surgery will involve breaking and fusing bones in her ankle so that she can walk more comfortably and avoid needing a wheelchair throughout the school day or for simple outings like going to the mall with friends. Another possible surgery may involve revising her shunt, which may need to be moved so it can drain fluid around her heart or lungs. Recently, fluid has begun building up in her abdomen, leaving her looking nine months pregnant. We are currently taking her to the ER to have the fluid drained while doctors continue to determine the exact cause, which we believe may involve both shunt drainage issues and slow gut motility.
Like many families dealing with complex medical conditions, the financial strain has been overwhelming. Over the years we have faced continuous medical bills, and we are still trying to recover from a period where our savings were drained after four and a half years of working without pay while building my biotech company. The difficult fundraising climate in the biotech industry has made it extremely challenging for science startups to survive, and it has impacted our ability to generate the income needed to keep up with Sophie’s growing medical needs.
Because of these ongoing medical costs, we have also been unable to afford the dental braces Sophie needs, and her teeth are now causing her daily pain. Our hope is that with some financial relief from these medical expenses, we can finally address this as well.
We are asking for help to cover Sophie’s next NK cell infusion and travel, as well as to give our family the breathing room we need to continue caring for her medical needs.
If you are able to contribute — even a few dollars — it would mean the world to our family and help ensure that Sophie gets the care she needs to keep moving forward.
Thank you for supporting Sophie and for being part of her journey.
With gratitude,
Tracy, Josh & Sophie
PayPal: [email redacted]
Venmo: @prayersforsophie
Sophie's Journey