Xena Princess Warrior

This isn’t my realm, I’m not great with words and I very much don’t like asking for help but here I am.

At our 20 week ultrasound with my third baby, we were made aware that our little girl had a mass sacrococcygeal teratoma growing from her tailbone. We were not given good statistics that she would survive, as the tumor was growing larger and faster than she was. We were referred to CHOP where they specialize in this diagnosis. Once we had our consultations and meetings with many, many doctors the team let me know I would no longer be able to work and had to be at CHOP for ultrasounds and tests 3-4 times a week. Over the next 8 weeks things rapidly progressed and our baby’s tumor was bigger than she was. I was in excruciating pain as one of the symptoms of this condition was “mother mirroring” Whatever she experienced, I could also experience. They decided to do a scheduled c section at 28 weeks due to possible heart failure because of her tumor.

Baby Girl was born on January 14, 2022 at 8:05 am. She weighed 2lbs 8oz. We named her Xena after Xena Princess Warrior. Because our little one is a true fighter. Immediately Xena went into surgery where the doctors removed the majority of the tumor on the outside, knowing she had more surgeries in the near future to remove the rest.

I waited 27 days to hold my little one for the very first time. Holding your new baby after waiting what felt like a lifetime is a feeling I can’t describe. As Xena was recovering from her first surgery in the NICU we got news that her intestines were dying and she needed to have yet another surgery. Plus she had a gap in her heart and needed to have a PDA installed to close the gap (essentially a mesh piece closing the gap) She went through the surgeries, her intestines healed, she has colostomy bags until they can reconnect her insides and her heart surgery went on with no complications. 

A couple of weeks went by and baby girl seemed to be doing well. She was resting, recovering and doing all the things a new little babe her age should be doing. Xena had a PET scan scheduled to check up on her first surgery and see how things were healing. Little did the doctors expect to find, her benign sacrococcygeal teratoma had turned into malignant type 3 stem cell cancer. Now attacking her spine. I received the phone call and immediately dropped to the floor in tears. I couldn’t believe it.

Again I met with a team of doctors, This time her oncology team. They explained the plan of treatment and how Xena would be going through 4 rounds of chemotherapy. Three days on and 3 weeks off. They explained side effects and what to expect. I was just taking it all in. Information overload.

We’ve now been through 3 rounds of chemo so far and Xena is fighting like that true warrior she is. I know my girl will make it through this. She has an amazing 7 year old big sister who can’t wait to meet her, a 1 1/2 year old big brother who is totally going to be jealous and parents, grandparents, friends and family who I know will love her like no other. With gas prices at a crazy high and Xena being an hour away in Philadelphia, plus raising two other littles and going back to work only part time due to hospital visits and childcare, supporting a household has been tough.

Its now been 17 weeks and I’ve held my little girl only a handful of times, have never seen her face without tape, or tubes and miss her so much my heart hurts. We cannot wait to have you home to complete our hearts baby girl! ♥️ 

My goal isn’t to raise a certain amount of money. Every little bit helps and I am so much more than grateful and appreciative of anything that is donated. I want people to know Xena’s story and how much of an amazing little person she is! Thank you to everyone

❤️ #Xenaprincesswarrior