Hazel Grace Baisden has had anything but the typical average little girl’s life. She was born with a genetic syndrome called Beckwith-Wiedemann. At just one day old, she had her first surgery for her omphalocele. The next three months of her life were spent in the nicu on oxygen with a feeding tube from how frail she was. At six months old she got diagnosed with her first cancer, hepatoblastoma. She had multiple surgeries to try and help remove the tumor as quickly as possible. When removed, the tumor caused bile leak. Hazel was sent to Nationwide children’s hospital where she had 5 drains as well as other surgeries. At one years old, she needed a liver transplant. She had countless weekly blood panels done for months on end. One year post transplant, when she went into the ER for what was believed to be just a tooth infection, more tumors were found. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, with her chances of survival less than 20%. She was later life flighted from Akron Children’s Hospital to Nationwide. She spent almost a half a year doing radiation at Nationwide. Monday through Friday, Hazel would be put under to do radiation, as well as she would have chemotherapy once a week. Every three months, she would have her scans done at this time. Since then, 5 new tumors have emerged. A tumor currently on her lungs is not responding at all to her chemotherapy. That tumor later become a diagnosis of a new form of cancer, ganglioneuroblastoma. For a year now, Hazel has been doing weekly chemo therapy. Ontop all of this, she will be taking tacro, an anti rejection medication, as well as many other medications the rest of her life. Just recently, as of December 3rd, we have been informed that the original tumor has come back after all of the treatments we have tried. Though we still plan on being in contact with a neurologist, the tumor is at a part of her skull that would need cracked open to attempt to try and reach/ remove it. With Hazel only turning 4 this coming year ontop of her whole medical journey so far, we do not want to attempt to put her through that. We have also been informed that Hazel’s true chance of surviving this/ beating all of these forms of cancer is unlikely. As for now Hazel’s time left, depends mainly on how fast as well as how aggressive this tumor becomes. We will continue with her chemotherapy in the meantime as this is what has truthfully kept so much at bay this far.

We cannot be more grateful for everyone who has helped us along this journey. Hazel would not have made it this far without all the love and support everyone who’s heard her story has given us. Hazel is beyond a bright beautiful little girl with a personality that lights up a whole room, even still with everything she’s been through in her life.