TOGETHER WE CAN

Annabelle is six years old.  Up until a few weeks ago she was a healthy little girl getting ready for kindergarten, losing her first tooth and enjoying being a little girl.  Her grandmother started to notice the right side of Annabelle's face was not working the way it should.  She went to the doctor and they thought it was an easy fix.  Next thing they know, they are finding themselves at Riley in Indianapolis in their ER. 

So on August 8, 2019 Annabelle was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma (DIPG).  Medical advances in the past years have improved survival rates for many pediatric cancers, but not DIPG.  A DIPG diagnosis is always terminal.  There is no cure, there is no effective treatment plan.  Annabelle is expected to be with us for another 9-15 months.  In an effort to extend her time with her family she will undergo a 6 week radiation treatment that is standard for DIPG patients.

The family is going to have to spend five days a week away from home for the next six weeks.  They need to be close to Riley for Annabelle's treatments.  They need our help to provide a clean, safe place for them to stay in-between treatments.  This will help Annabelle feel like she is in a home away from home and she will not have to bounce around from place to place.  Any and all support we can give to this family is going to make Annabelle's life a whole lot easier.