Continuing care for Dominic: Round 2

Hi. My name is Tara, and I’m fundraising on behalf of Alisa Hughes and Dominic. As some of you may know, Dominic (18) has undergone chemo for the last 10 weeks, and he and his mom desperately need help… please read their story.

When Dom was born, he was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis, or NF1. This condition mainly causes tumors to grow in the nervous system. Among other symptoms, it can also cause scoliosis. In 2019, as Dominics doctors were preparing to do scoliosis surgery, they discovered a tumor in his brain stem. Because of this, the doctors were not able to continue with his scoliosis surgery, but had to pivot to brain surgery. So, a week from this discovery, Dominic underwent brain surgery to try to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, the doctors weren’t able to remove all of the tumor as it was wrapped around Doms brain stem and started to cause a problem during surgery with paralysis on his right side. After surgery, Dom spent 6 weeks in the hospital recovering from the complications of his surgery. After being discharged from the hospital, Dom was still confined home to ‘home hospital’ where he continued to receive physical therapy and occupational therapy. He also had a tutor but that was only for an hour a day.

In recovering from this surgery, Dominic was required to have an MRI every three months to keep watch over the tumor left wrapped around his brain stem. However, in July, the doctors informed them that the tumor had grown back to its original size and something would need to be done before it cut off the blood supply to his brain. Because Dom was not a candidate for surgery any more, chemo is the only option. So, for the last 10 weeks, Dom has been suffering through chemo and developed an allergic reaction to the current chemo drugs. Now the doctors have to reassess his treatment plan and find a new chemo cocktail for him.

During all of this, Dominics sole caretaker has been his mom, Alisa, and she hasn’t been able to keep working. Doctors appointments and caretaking have become Alisa’s full time job. Doms dad is also very active in his life, but has thankfully been able to continue working.

Doms fight isn’t over and the house and medical bills are piling up. Alisa needs help. Most of us know how hard it is to ask for help and to do it publicly.

Please help me help this family. ❤️