Being a single parent comes with many tasks. Caring for children full time while working 40 hours a week, making sure you are able to provide for them. Everything works out well, until something happens out of nowhere and turns your world completely upside down. This is what happened to me the day that my daughter was diagnosed with cancer. 

        On July 14, 2015, Brooklynn was diagnosed with an extremely rare type of cancer at the tender age of 5. This type of cancer is called Diffuse midline glioma with Foci Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma with Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage. Diffuse Midline Gliomas are primary central nervous system tumors. Meaning, they begin in the brain or spinal cord. It is a rare subtype of Glial Tumors. To get an accurate diagnosis, a piece of tumor tissue is typically removed during surgery. Unfortunately, Brooklyns type of cancer is much more rare due to the accompanying diagnosis of Foci Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma with Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage. Only 7 other kids in the United States have been diagnosed with this specific mutation.

        Brooklynn’s fight has been perilous since the start. There have been many ups and downs, along with so many unanswered questions, due to the rarity of the type of cancer she has. Sometimes I struggle to accept that this is our reality now. If I had been taken seriously from the start, this could have been prevented. Although my daughter has overcome so much, it is not without emotional and mental distress. Brooklynn suffers from anxiety and severe memory loss. She was also diagnosed with Intellectual Disability, but that does not stop her from fighting every day to lead a normal life. 

         Research from the National Cancer Institute on statistical data about childhood cancer, paints a gruesome picture of how childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children in the United States. It has been formally estimated in 2022 that over 15,600 children will be diagnosed with childhood cancer, and 1,780 will die of the disease in the United States. Further, brain cancers are the second most common form of childhood cancer, accounting for over 20% of all cases. Further research shows that the Government has allocated a baffling 4% funding for childhood cancer research. We need this percentage raised to at least 8% to ensure more consistent research for childhood cancer. 

        One of the many reasons I am so passionate about finding a cure for childhood cancer, is that I do not want another family’s lives to be altered the way our lives have been since Brooklynn’s diagnosis. These kids are being robbed of their childhood. Instead of playing on a playground or going to school, they are fighting for their lives. I appreciate facilities like UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland for having the right people in place to help these children.

        But my daughter went through chemo and radiation five days a week. These treatments leave you immunocompromised and cause side effects that last most, if not all of your life. Research shows that these treatments being administered to our children have not been updated since the 70’s. It is time to change that.

         By signing this petition, you will be standing with us in the fight to raise the federal funding for childhood cancer research from 4% to 8%. This will be extremely beneficial for children battling cancer. Right now there is only one month of the year dedicated to this research. The extra funding will ensure more consistent research to aid in finding a cure for childhood cancer year round. Please click the link to sign. One free minute of your time could make a world of difference in a sick child's life.