Our Story: Adalyn Rose

We are from Pensacola Florida, living in Akron Oh 

On August 11th, our entire world turned upside down. Just a week prior, we noticed our sweet 2-year-old daughter, Adalyn, tugging at her ear, seeming dizzy and irritable—as if she had a bad earache. She wasn’t herself and was far less active.

We took her to Akron Children’s Hospital on the 8th, but we were sent home with no answers. Over the next few days, Adalyn declined rapidly. By the morning of the 11th, she could no longer walk. She was in and out of consciousness, drooling, and extremely lethargic.

We rushed her back to the hospital, and this time Zack insisted on an MRI. Within 30 minutes, our worst nightmare became reality—Adalyn had a large brain tumor. She was taken for an emergency procedure to drain fluid, and since then, she has undergone another surgery for a shunt placement, as well as a port insertion to begin chemotherapy.

The diagnosis came back as Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR)—a rare and aggressive childhood brain cancer. Only about 300 cases have ever been recorded, and the prognosis is devastating. More than half of children diagnosed with ETMR do not survive beyond 12 months of treatment.

Adalyn started her first round of chemo, but her little body struggled to handle it. This past week, she spiked fevers between 101–104, Zack pushed for us to go back to the hospital. An MRI has since revealed that her tumor is growing, and doctors now plan to attempt a risky surgery to remove as much of it as possible before beginning round two of chemo.

This has shattered me and Zack in ways I can’t describe. Our baby girl hasn’t even had the chance to truly live yet. She should be at home playing, running, making messes in our living room—not fighting for her life in a hospital bed.

To make things even harder, this month carries painful reminders. It’s Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and it also happens to fall during Mitochondrial Awareness Week—the very disease that took my sister’s son, my nephew, just one year ago today.

Life is unbelievably cruel sometimes. Everything changed for us in the blink of an eye.

We’ve now been in and out of the hospital for over a month, only spending one short week at home together. I’ve had people ask about donations, and while I never want to pressure anyone, I know that sharing our story may bring both awareness and support.

Right now, I’m unable to work, and Adalyns amazing Father Zachary has taken on the full burden of our household expenses while also being by our side every step of the way, being at the hospital every day after work, keeping Adalyn smiling, and doing all the silly things to make her laugh, no matter how “crazy” it may make him look. He works extra hard every day to make sure we are cared for. He has done so much for us, but the reality is heavy, and this journey has just begun. 

If you feel it in your heart to donate, please know how deeply we appreciate it. And please know, it will go torwards our living expenses, as this has really put a dent in the money we did have saved up. Every prayer, share, kind comment, and donation means the world to us. We are holding onto hope, praying for miracles, and cherishing every single moment with our sweet girl.

Thank you for standing with Adalyn Rose. Please continue to pray for her comfort, healing, and strength. This is Pediatric Cancer Awarness Month, Wear yellow or gold to support all of the babies who can’t advocate

for themselves. We are their voice.