Dipg brain cancer will not beat my daughter

Mikeal Samone Richardson is an 18-year-old student from Washington, DC. She has plans. She has drive. She’s brilliant and hard working and kind. She’s always been an “A” student. Samone has been planning her high school graduation and looking forward to her first year in college. Numerous college acceptances thus far and they are they are still coming in. She hoped to attend Spelman College and to become a social worker in the special victims unit. She walked into Children’s hospital emergency room on February 27, 2019 with partial facial paralysis, and was admitted due to a mass seen via cat scan in her brainstem area. Monday March 4th 2019 she had a biopsy on the Mass on her brain. Wednesday March 6th 2019 exactly one week from the day we walked into the emergency’s room she was diagnosed with what may be the most awful type of cancer anyone can have. It’s called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG. It’s a tumor located in the pons (middle) of the brain stem, and there is no cure for it. DIPG is highly resistant to chemo therapy and while radiation therapy will shrink the mass, it has not resulted in a cure.

Samone is the eldest of six children. Her sisters and brothers are devastated. Her mom, dad, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and friends are, too. Nobody deserves a diagnosis like this.There’s not much anyone can do to fix this but we can do something to relieve the financial pressure on Samone’s family and to provide a few comforts to Samone herself. She is in need of medical equipment, transportation to and from medical appointments, and medications not covered by insurance, and etc. With a poor prognosis she would like to travel.She also is looking forward to her senior prom and graduation!

Whatever you can kick in will be appreciated. Whatever you give will help. Your loving concern will be a balm to Samone’s and her family’s hearts and will make a real difference in the life of this extraordinary young woman.

Thank you for your generosity.PS – If you’d like to share a word of encouragement with Samone, please send email to [email redacted].