Kaia

Kaia Martin. Our baby girl. She has been fighting for her life since she was 3 years old. 

A month after her 3rd Birthday, Kaia endured emergency brain surgery at VCU for a craniopharyngioma (a rare brain tumor) that almost killed her. She has been living with all the life-altering effects of panhypopituitarism since the surgery. 

At 6 years old, they found a 2nd craniopharyngioma growing on one of her regular follow-up MRI's. At this point, VCU referred Kaia to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, where there is a radiation oncologist treating many of this rare tumor. 

Dr. Merchant at St. Jude's sent Kaia for proton radiation. Kaia had 30 rounds of proton radiation over 6 weeks.

The proton radiation stopped the 

craniopharyngioma from growing any further.

Now, at 14, Kaia has a grade 4 glioma caused by the radiation treatments she received when she was 6. 

If you have ever met Kaia, you know she has the sweetest soul. She is absolutely the kindest person I know. So thoughtful and considerate of everyone else.

As we embark on this next chapter, we want to make sure that Kaia has the best opportunities and experiences available to her. Several people have inquired about how they can contribute.

This is for Kaia. This is so that we can give her the best life we can. This is so that we can remain together as a family while we take this on. This is for those of you who want to give to her, but didn't have a way to help until this. Whatever you feel in your heart, but no pressure at all.

Thank you for all of your love and support.❤

Update: Kaia just completed 5 weeks of photon radiation at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and is preparing to start chemo with Children's National in D.C. Tanner and I (Dad and Mom) are sourcing for Kaia's wish: her very own bakery cottage in our backyard. With Make-A-Wish being booked out at least a year for any kind of build, we couldn't let her wish go un-granted. Any donations will go to her cottage as well as to her continuing medical treatments. Thank you all so much for loving our girl