Help Ané's Battle with Brain Cancer

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

I find myself in an incredibly challenging situation as I navigate through my child's battle with brain cancer. My little warrior, Ané, has been diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma, a rare cancer that attacks the primary central nervous system. She was first diagnosed when she was 1 yrs old. She had been sick for weeks and wasn’t getting better. She lost her ability to walk and talk and her vision was also affected. Once I had taken her into the ER for the 3rd time the doctors found a very large tumor in her brain and our lives had been turned upside down. She had a successful surgery and her tumor was completely removed. Thankfully she was able to complete 30 treatments of proton radiation and she was back to feeling like herself. She was walking and talking and back to being a happy baby. We have always had to have regular scans to watch for any regrowth of tumor. Unfortunately in December of 2022, only one week before her 5th birthday , her MRI showed what doctors believed to be regrowth. I admittedly had to stop working to prepare for surgery for her. Ependymoma can grow rapidly so we could not wait long to let the doctors do the resection. This time the surgery was successful as well but a bit more challenging. With doctors needing to go through the same spot in her brain where there was scar tissue created more pain for her. Plus she is older now and can understand much more. She has had a few challenges along the way of recovery. She had issues with healing since that area of her brain had already been treated with radiation in the past. She was dealing with a lot of emotions because she didn’t understand why she needed to be in the hospital and in pain when she was feeling fine before. She is only 5 years old but very intelligent. The physical healing and the emotional healing was completely different the second time. After months of healing she was able to start another round of radiation treatments. The emotional and financial burden of this journey has been overwhelming, and I am humbly reaching out to you for support.

Ané has always been a ray of sunshine in our lives, filled with boundless energy and infectious laughter. However, this unexpected diagnosis has drastically changed our lives. I am her only caregiver and provider. My focus has shifted entirely to providing the best possible care for my child, and as a result, I have been unable to work full-time or meet our financial obligations. The medical expenses alone have been daunting, with numerous doctor visits, specialized treatments, surgeries, and ongoing therapy. On top of that, the mounting bills for everyday necessities, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, and transportation, have become increasingly difficult to manage. I am doing everything I can to provide for my child, but I find myself in dire need of assistance.

This is where your generosity and compassion can make a tremendous difference. I have created this GoFundMe campaign to humbly request financial support to help alleviate the overwhelming burden that has come with our child's illness. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go directly towards covering medical expenses, ensuring that Ané receives the best treatment available, and enabling us to meet our basic needs during this challenging time.

Your support will provide us with more than just financial relief; it will give us the strength and peace of mind to focus on Ané’s well-being without the constant worry of mounting bills. Additionally, your love and encouragement mean the world to us and remind us that we are not alone in this fight.

Please consider donating and sharing our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. Together, we can make a positive impact on our child's life and help us maintain stability during this difficult journey. Any contribution, whether financial or emotional, is sincerely appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of our support network. Your kindness and generosity will forever hold a special place in our lives.

With immense gratitude,

Kiara Ford ( Mom)