Sofia Cooper's Treatment Expenses

Hello Friends and Family,

I am writing today to ask for your support. Camille, Luke, Sofia and Cohen Cooper need all of our help as they embark on, what will hopefully be, an amazing opportunity for Miss Sofia.

First, a little background...

In November of 2020 Camille took Sofia to the ER with a headache so severe that Sofia lost her balance and fell in Camille’s office. After multiple tests, the doctors discovered a large tumor in her brain blocking the tube that drained her spinal fluid. A biopsy later revealed that Sofia had a pilocytic astrocytoma, a slow-growing tumor that generally doesn’t respond well to traditional treatments. Sofia immediately started a month-long hospital stay to undergo multiple surgeries on her brain; including procedures to alleviate the pressure from the blocked fluid, unsuccessful attempts to remove the tumor, and the rebuilding of a path for the fluid to drain. After the surgeries, Sofia and her parents were told that she would need to start chemotherapy to stop the tumor growth and that, if successful, she would remain on chemotherapy indefinitely. Fast forward a year and a half and a second opinion from Seattle Children’s hospital, and it has been discovered that the two chemotherapy regimes Sofia has tried have been unsuccessful and that the tumor is continuing to spread.

While this news has devastated everyone who loves Sofia and the whole Cooper family, it has come with a ray of hope. Since her tumor is not responding as the doctors would like to the standard chemotherapy, it has made Sof eligible to enroll in a Phase II (early) clinical trial that is showing a lot of promise in patients with pilocytic astrocytoma. The catch is, in order to participate in this treatment, Sofia and her parents must be in Seattle for the entire month of August and then must return every month thereafter for two years to get the experimental medication and run through the required medical tests to monitor her health and response to the drug. Outside of the emotional implications (Sofia will miss her first weeks of junior high, the family will be separated for long periods, and Sofia will be away from her friends (as a tween this is a huge deal)) there are a lot of financial and logistical complications as well. This my friends is where you come in!

Health insurance will not cover any part of treatments in the research stage so Camille and Luke must pay for all of the travel and lodging necessary to make these trips. This means traveling to Seattle at least 24 times on a predetermined schedule set by the study, finding lodging for at least a couple of nights each trip, and meals and incidentals. In addition, the family hopes there will be opportunities to be together during the first month and if these trips fall over holidays, birthdays or other important events. This opportunity requires the Coopers to move very fast, with only one week to figure out work, travel and all of that is necessary to make a big trip. We are hoping that all of you can pitch in to help make the financial burden a little lighter and give them the resources they need to get Sofia this treatment.

https://account.venmo.com/u/Camille-Cooper-8