On Monday, June 15th, six-year-old Dorothea (“Thea”) was driven to the hospital emergency room after developing sudden balance problems. An abnormal result from CT imaging of her brain stem led to a hospital admission for further testing. Following the MRIs, Dorothea was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a very rare type of cancer found in the pons region of the brainstem: an area vital for controlling breathing, heart rate, swallowing, balance, and other essential involuntary functions. Patients can also develop muscle weakness, headaches, nausea and vomiting from nerve compression and increased pressure inside the skull. Surgical removal is not possible since DIPG intertwines with healthy brain tissue, therefore treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and giving families precious time together. Following her recent biopsy and initiation of steroid treatments, Dorothea has also begun a six-week course of targeted radiation, which we hope will ease her symptoms of balance issues, swallowing difficulties, blurry vision, fatigue and one-sided facial droop that worsens when she is tired.

Her parents, Nathaniel and Cathy, are devoted to giving Dorothea the best possible care and making every moment count. With the demands of hospital stays and treatment, working right now is incredibly challenging. Their focus is on being present for Dorothea and supporting their other five children at home, which has brought unexpected financial challenges on top of the emotional toll.

As you can imagine, DIPG families face enormous expenses, even with insurance: lost income, travel and lodging for medical care and clinical trial, insurance deductibles and copays, medications, hospital care, childcare for siblings, home environment safety, mobility and medical equipment, meal support, and end-of-life planning. Our goal is to lift the financial burden so the Barretts can focus entirely on Dorothea—her comfort, her care, and their time together.

Your support will help with all of these added expenses, and other needs that arise as Dorothea’s condition changes. Please consider donating, sharing this page, praying for Dorothea and her family, or offering practical help. Although our initial goal is $20,000 to help the Barretts immediately, expenses could well be $100,000 or greater throughout the coming year, so we will update the goal as needed. Every gift—no matter the size—makes a meaningful difference. Thank you for standing with this family during this hard chapter of their lives.