#StrongLikeDestiny

This is Destiny, she is 13 years old with a goal of going to Harvard University and becoming an Attorney / Federal Prosecutor.

It all started when she was younger and we noticed her eye began to drift. In 2020 she was diagnosed with Von Recklinghausen disease also known as Neurofibromatosis with Plexiform neurofibromas (PN).

NF is a rare disorder which causes tumors to grow on her central nervous system nerves. With tumors on every nerve including in her brain, kidneys, all up her spinal cord etc, with biggest problem one, pending on biopsy results, a in her optic pathway system. This system sends signals from the eye to the brain so a person can “see” images. The visual system includes the optic nerve, the optic tract, the chiasm and the optic radiation. Optic pathway tumors squeeze the visual system. This causes pressure, weakens the imaging signals sent to the brain, and damages vision. And is currently between her eyes and is causing her to lose sight in both eyes.

Just before her 11th birthday she started and went through 14 continuous months of chemotherapy. That was two types of chemo almost every week, which we hoped would stop the growth of the inoperable tumor on her optic nerve. After chemo she seemed to have stable vision, she then underwent eye surgery to stop the eye drifting but unfortunately since then her eyesight has only got worse. Her eyesight decreased to 20/70 in one eye and 20/100 with no peripheral vision in either eye, which means she is legally blind even with the little vision she has left. Less then 2 weeks ago she had a biopsy of her tumor where they took 3 samples in hopes of finding a form of chemo that will save what eyesight she has left, but multiple doctors say she will more then likely go entirely blind. Possibly by the end of the year. Due to where the tumor is, it cannot be removed, they cannot use radiation and chemo so-far has not worked.

This sweet girl has been through so much and she still loves to crack jokes and make sure everyone is smiling.

If you are able to donate it would be greatly appreciated and we will be so grateful to you. If you are not able we 100% understand and we just ask that you keep Destiny and our family in your prayers. Thank you.