In May of 2007, doctors diagnosed Sophia with anaplastic medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. Sophia endured months of inpatient high dose chemotherapy and she received three autologous stem cell transplants at the Scottish Rite and Egleston campuses of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She bounced back more quickly than anyone ever imagined.

Unfortunately, Sophia’s aggressive tumor grew back in March of 2008. Sophia found herself back into the scary world of hospitals and ouchies. The brain surgeon operated on her to resect the tumor. Around five weeks later, as she was about to begin high dose radiation treatments, her symptoms returned again. She got five days of radiation and then went back under the knife for brain surgery again. Four days after brain surgery, she was back on the radiation table. After completing six weeks of radiation, Sophia began a metronomic oral chemotherapy regimen. Unfortunately, her tumor grew back quickly.  Given the aggressiveness of the tumor and the fact that she had already had the toughest protocols out there for children, she was placed on home hospice care. She was given a few weeks to a few months, but three months later, she is still with us. She is now deaf and has lost a lot of vision, but she continues to enjoy life.

The amount of help given to us in this time of crisis touched our hearts. We never imagined such an outpouring of love. We feel it is very important to give back. Sophia’s life continues to be at risk as she battles the monster growing inside of her head. Even as we fight, we remember others who are fighting similar battles. Sophia has lots of friends, both adults and children, who are fighting the cancer beast. We want to do what we can to support organizations that focus on pediatric cancer and other types of cancer research. We want to help organizations that give aid to families who are in the middle of the battle. Please help us to help others. Our dream is for a cure for cancer to be found in our lifetime, so that Sophia and her friends will never have to fear the ugly disease again.  

To read Sophia’s blog about her journey, go to:

www.carepages.com

carepage name: sophiasjourney