UPDATE 8/31: Bit of a scare on Friday.. during a normal clinic visit to get blood and platelet transfusions, Nova experienced a quick onset of rigors, elevated heart rate, and diminished blood pressure. A code was called for intervention and she was sent to the ICU. Doctors are saying her body went into septic shock due to an infection in her blood stream (unconfirmed sepsis).

She was monitored for 48 hours with meds maintaining a stable blood pressure and multiple antibiotics to fight the infection. She has also received blood products to bring her back to a normal state. She is now able to keep her vitals stable on her own and is being moved to the oncology floor today!! Just waiting for a bed to open up. :)

UPDATE 7/30: The past 3 months Nova has been going through Chemo every few weeks. She just finished her 4th round and starts PT & OT today! Recent MRI scans look GREAT, and she is taking treatments like a rockstar. She has her days of course, but overall.. She is blowing us away with how strong she has been through all of this! Her and my sister are still at the Ronald McDonald house, away from her other children at home and will be throughout the remainder of the year (we believe). Thank you for continuing to follow along Nova's journey. Please please share or donate if you can. The support received has been AMAZING and we cannot thank ya'll enough!! :)

UPDATE 4/30: Nova had her MRI on Monday 4/28, results came in yesterday.. All that was left of the masses on her brain from removal during brain surgery are GONE! THEY ARE GONE! Radiation did it's thing! GREAT news to start this next chapter of her journey. There are still cancer cells in her body, so the next 6mo of chemo will stop those from growing and mass producing. Which started today! It went great and she is currently feeling good! They are back in Chicago.. Back and forth from Ronald McDonald House/Lurie's for inpatient Chemo (few days a week). The rest of the year is going to be physically tough for Nova but she's already proved she is a fighter. Please continue to share the GoFundMe, if you could. My sister could still use the help financially with being out of work. I will post updates as they come. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT :)

UPDATE 4/1: Today is Nova's last day of radiation! Yesterday was her last day of once a week chemo. 6 weeks flew by. She heads home tomorrow for about 4 weeks. She will have another MRI to check on the tumors before she starts inpatient intense chemo for 6 months. She will be headed back to Chicago to be at Lurie's again & if needed at the Ronald McDonald house there too. I want to express thanks to everyone who has shared and donated the GoFundMe.. And also for all the support and love over the past 2 1/2 months (wow.. it's only been that long?) We are all forever grateful, but please continue to share as this next chapter starts. My sister could still use the help financially. I will post the next update in about a month. :)

UPDATE 2/13: Nova has been in physical therapy, learning to walk again and she has been doing amazing! She is talking on her own again still has her silly and spunky personality coming out. While prepping for radiation, another MRI was done. They found more tumors.. She has a total of 9 instead. 4 on the brain and 5 on the spine. (Originally 2 & 2). Luckily, they are just small thing coatings, but that means they are unable to remove them but treatment ahead should help. This road approaching will be tough on her but we know after it's all done and kicks cancers butt, she will be 100% back to her normal self! 2/18 starts daily radiation (M-F) and chemo once a week.

UPDATE 1/22: Nova has cancer. The tumors are Medulloblastoma. She had surgery today and it went very well! They were able to remove majority of the tumor near the middle of her brain and the back of her brain. All that's left is a thin lining of the tumor in both spots, that they couldn't remove due to what it was connected to. So more than originally thought! She's recovering well, was talking for a little bit then resting now. But she's doing amazing! The tumors will be tested to see what type of Medulloblastoma they are. Next, the plan is 4 weeks of therapy - 6 weeks of radiation and a little chemo (outpatient) - 4 week break - 6 months of intense chemo (inpatient).

1/13: My name is Morgan and my 13yr old niece Nova went to the ER for a headache last night that she’s had for 2 weeks. They found masses that were blocking fluid. She was transported to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital overnight in Chicago to do surgery right away, which was putting in tubes to help drainage. There are 2 masses on her brain, 1 on her neck & 1 on her tailbone. My other niece is getting help at a facility currently and seems my sister can’t catch a break. I can’t imagine the hospital bills after this and hoping this can help my sister out while my niece recovers. She will need to stay at the hospital & then home when they are able, to be with her and miss several weeks of work. Any help would be appreciated and I will give updates as I know them. Thank you. ♥️