Miriam's Kids Research Fund

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Cara's Story...A Brain Tumor Survivor

Imagine sitting in a small waiting room holding your 21 month old baby who is days removed from brain surgery.

You are waiting for pathology results from the doctor. You think the worst is over. You handed your child over to a surgeon who you had met only once and he removed a tumor from the back of her head attached to her brain stem and she survived.

Her doctor walks into that small waiting room and tells you your child has an aggressive and rare cancer that will likely kill her in 6 weeks to 6 months. You can't breathe.

The journey begins.

This is how Cara's story began 10 years ago. Her story is one that plays out time and time again at CHOP; too many times. But her ending is one of hope for all the children who came after and continue to come. Her story was supposed to end 10 years ago but due to the amazing doctors and staff , cutting- edge research, continued new drug trials and protocols, and the ongoing efforts to fund these programs, children like Cara survive against all odds.

Sadly, for many, the story ends. Children like Miriam, Alex, Bryce and Zachary, and scores of others. It is a little known fact that in the United States, brain tumors and central nervous system cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in children under the age of 9. As parents, we never imagine this situation, yet once we are on the journey and meet so many others, we understand this grave statistic.

Yet, we never give up hope and we never give up trying.