When people say that life can change in an instant, you never think you will be the ones who prove that statement true. But on March 16th, 2019, we were. Lily started having headaches and then complained of double vision. At her doctor's request we took her to the Emergency Department at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she had to undergo a multitude of tests and scans. Within a few hours Lily was in brain surgery to biopsy a mass that was found during her MRI. It was cancer. Our daughter has brain cancer. Numbness. Breathing ceased. And our life changed.
Her tumor is inoperable due to its location. She has gone through rounds of chemotherapy, dozens of doses of proton therapy, many surgeries, and a hefty amount of platelet transfusions. Each MRI had shown that she was picking away at this tumor. It was getting smaller. However her June 8th, 2020 MRI would show us something different. There was progression, meaning the tumor had grown. We were punched in the gut. Breathing ceased. Numbness again.
Fast forward to August 2023, where Lily’s daily chemotherapy amounting to 1,095 days (3 years) had kept her tumor stable and an unbelievable choice emerged after prayer and much deliberation with medical and non-medical people in our corner. Lily was off chemotherapy!!
Throughout the past few years, Lily’s tumor has been stable, although she has to work every day to manage long-term side effects, like short-term memory loss and seizures. During her last MRI in May, Lily’s results showed more growth, and she had to undergo surgery and another round of chemotherapy. On October 29th, she will endure another MRI to see what a few months of this new chemotherapy has done to the tumor.
We need our prayer warriors, her "Team Lily", to lift your voices and ask Father Bill Atkinson to intercede for us. May he use Lily as his vessel towards sainthood by helping in her miracle. She has accepted her cross with faith and grace and is drawing others to the Lord by her example. Please pray and hope along with us for Lily’s complete healing. God bless you all.
