Charli's Fight Against Wilms

Thank you, friends, for taking the time to visit our page. We are fundraising for Damara Burke and her family.

A few days after the new year, Damara received news that no parent should ever have to receive – her daughter has cancer. Charli is just two years old and has been diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms Tumor, a form of kidney cancer.

Shortly after the new year, Damara noticed something swelling inside Charli’s upper belly. She took her to the doctor and was immediately transferred to CHOP oncologist. After a week of testing (ultrasound, MRI with anesthesia, CT scan, and Biopsy), the doctors confirmed that she had several masses that metastasized from her kidney to her liver, lungs, and around her blood vessels. These tumors in Charli’s sweet little body are pushing on her aortic nerve and causing high blood pressure and difficulty breathing. Charli stayed hospitalized in CHOP for roughly a week where she started her first round chemotherapy on Sunday. To our family’s relief, she was discharged on Thursday and able to reunite with her 3 siblings [Giovanni (16), Benito (9), and Sage (6)] and her mom in the comfort of her own home to continue treatments spanning a minimum of 6 months.

We are confident in Charli’s team at CHOP and the plan they have quickly put into place. Charli will have to undergo chemotherapy and surgery to fight this tumor. There is a possibility for radiation and blood transfusions down the road. Damara, a single mother of 4 and a shift supervisor at Starbucks, has already begun her leave of absence to be by her side fighting with her. We are asking for any donations to help with the cost of her medical expenses and expenses that occur as she takes time off to help her baby girl. We are all so grateful for any support to help Damara and Charli during this difficult time.