Alayna's fight against DIPG

Alayna was born on October 20, 2012 here in Sacramento. She is beautiful, silly, caring, and strong. She gets these traits from her mother. If you know Liz you know how caring, patient, hardworking, and strong she is as well. We have all seen how she has always done everything in her power to take care of Alayna as a single mom for the past 7 years. She is not one to ask for help but times have become unimaginably hard for her.  Just 3 weeks after Alayna's 7th birthday, on November 11, 2019 Alayna went in for an MRI following what we all thought were symptoms caused by a previous concussion. Instead the following day she was diagnosed with a brain tumor on her brainstem, the most important area in the brain that controls all body functions.  Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is considered to be an extremely rare aggressive pediatric brain tumor that steals the innocent lives of children most commonly between the ages of 5-10. With radiation, the average length of survival is 9 months. Surgery to remove a DIPG tumor is impossible because of its diffuse nature. It is not a solid tumor but rather mixed in with healthy brain cells. Alayna was able to undergo a biopsy in December at UCSF Children's hospital. Currently Alayna has been receiving radiation treatments 5 days a week in Roseville for 6 weeks. She is also on CBD and THC. She is almost done with radiation and then will be going back to UCSF Childrens hospital to participate in one of their clinical trials.  At this time we ask for financial help in supporting Maria Elizabeth Reyes(Liz) and Alayna. Liz has stopped working since the diagnosis. This campaign will help her to continue to pay for Alayna's medications, medical bills,travel expenses, and their every day bills. Relieving these expenses will allow Liz to focus primarily on her daughter while we take care of them during these trying times. Your donations and prayers mean everything to us right now and we appreciate each and every one of you beyond measure.  Please continue to PRAY for Alayna's miracle.  PRAY for Liz's undeniable strength.  PRAY for a cure to end this monster.