Win Stella's fight against DIPG
Donation protected
This is Stella Rose Hamdi, the precious 2 ½ years old child of Karley and Laith. Stella was born on the crisp night of October 2, 2015 and like most parents, Karly and Laith welcomed their baby into this world with big hopes and dreams for her future.
Stella’s first few months of life were just as every other healthy baby’s until she started missing a few significant milestones. This led Karley to start looking for answers from her pediatricians and they began monitoring Stella but wouldn’t see additional significant delays until she was 15 months old. She was not walking as most toddlers her age, had fine motor skill delays and trouble communicating. Karly began to teach her sign language as a means of communicating and life went on as they searched for a reason for Stella’s delays. Doctors performed many tests and diagnosed her with Sensory Integration Disorder. Stella was placed in a rigorous speech and physical therapy program three times a week and seemed to be progressing. During this time she was also fitted with leg braces to assist her in walking, and doctors also discovered a vision deficiency that was causing Stella to have double vision. After months of intensive therapies, the doctor began to rethink their conclusion after several other markers did not fit their original diagnosis. They ordered an MRI to get a clearer picture of what might be causing Stella’s delays.
On Thursday morning, March 22nd 2018, Stella was sedated and the MRI went as planned. Later that same day Karley and Laith were alarmed to see a missed call from the neurologist and immediately called back only to learn the doctor had already left for the day. Friday morning the doctor called Karley to come in to meet with the neurologist and was told to bring as many family and/or friends she wanted to this appointment. A heavy sense of fear fell over the entire family. After arriving at the hospital and going to the appropriate floor for the meeting, it became apparent their lives would never be the same when they arrived on the oncology floor. A team of doctors, nurses, palliative care personnel, and counselors filled the room and delivered the earth shattering news…Stella has a cancerous Class IV non-operable brain tumor in the pons part of the brain, a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). This awful disease is one of the rarest forms of brain cancer and is located in the worst possible part of her brain.
This horrific and shocking diagnosis for Stella has left Karley, Laith and the entire family reeling. You could not imagine a better mother than Karley; Stella is her world and she has cared for her daughter every day of her life with servant’s heart. We ask that you lift this family in prayer and for doors to open so they may find a treatment to cure this precious child.
We need your help today. All the medical expenses and travel expenses to see specialists are adding up and this young couple can not carry this financial load on them alone. Anything you can give to help is appreciated.
Stella’s first few months of life were just as every other healthy baby’s until she started missing a few significant milestones. This led Karley to start looking for answers from her pediatricians and they began monitoring Stella but wouldn’t see additional significant delays until she was 15 months old. She was not walking as most toddlers her age, had fine motor skill delays and trouble communicating. Karly began to teach her sign language as a means of communicating and life went on as they searched for a reason for Stella’s delays. Doctors performed many tests and diagnosed her with Sensory Integration Disorder. Stella was placed in a rigorous speech and physical therapy program three times a week and seemed to be progressing. During this time she was also fitted with leg braces to assist her in walking, and doctors also discovered a vision deficiency that was causing Stella to have double vision. After months of intensive therapies, the doctor began to rethink their conclusion after several other markers did not fit their original diagnosis. They ordered an MRI to get a clearer picture of what might be causing Stella’s delays.
On Thursday morning, March 22nd 2018, Stella was sedated and the MRI went as planned. Later that same day Karley and Laith were alarmed to see a missed call from the neurologist and immediately called back only to learn the doctor had already left for the day. Friday morning the doctor called Karley to come in to meet with the neurologist and was told to bring as many family and/or friends she wanted to this appointment. A heavy sense of fear fell over the entire family. After arriving at the hospital and going to the appropriate floor for the meeting, it became apparent their lives would never be the same when they arrived on the oncology floor. A team of doctors, nurses, palliative care personnel, and counselors filled the room and delivered the earth shattering news…Stella has a cancerous Class IV non-operable brain tumor in the pons part of the brain, a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). This awful disease is one of the rarest forms of brain cancer and is located in the worst possible part of her brain.
This horrific and shocking diagnosis for Stella has left Karley, Laith and the entire family reeling. You could not imagine a better mother than Karley; Stella is her world and she has cared for her daughter every day of her life with servant’s heart. We ask that you lift this family in prayer and for doors to open so they may find a treatment to cure this precious child.
We need your help today. All the medical expenses and travel expenses to see specialists are adding up and this young couple can not carry this financial load on them alone. Anything you can give to help is appreciated.
Organizer
Karley Moradi
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
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