Support Ayva's Fight Against Osteosarcoma

Update 6/16/24 From Dana:

Ayva received her port and her feeding tube on Friday 6/14 and began chemo during the night while sleeping on Friday. She is a trooper! She said most of the pain and discomfort is coming from the port and feeding tube but the pain medication is helping manage the pain. Her appetite is not the best and when she did eat last night it came right back up. She is feeling a bit defeated to say the least for her first chemo treatment but we are flooding her with love, hugs, laughs and gifts to help bring out those smiles we all love to see!

Thank you everyone for your love and support both financially and through words of encouragement to the family. The money raised will help Steve, Lori and the girls with gas, tolls, groceries, eating on the go and paying bills while Lori is working less as she will be taking Ayva to her treatments.

My name is Dana and I am privileged to be the Aunt to Miss. Ayva Marie Dudley. I am creating this GoFundMe in hopes of raising money to help my brother and sister-in-law who recently received a very unexpected diagnosis with a long road ahead. This shocking and heartbreaking news is a devastating diagnosis that absolutely no parent wants to hear.

Info provided by Lori 6/11/24:

Back in February, Ayva was at the gym doing leg presses, and as expected, she was pretty sore the next day. I told her she was using muscles she was not used to using and gave her Tylenol for the pain. Over the next several weeks she was still in pain so I thought maybe she pulled a muscle. She took her to the pediatrician and examined Ayva’s leg and noticed how tender it was. She suggested an orthopedic doctor because she thought she might need an MRI.

We made an appointment at Upper Bucks Orthopedics at GVH and got an X-ray. The X-ray showed that she had some inflammation around her knee and the doctor thought based on Ayva’s symptoms that she could have a torn meniscus. No wonder she was in pain! Next, she was scheduled for an MRI to verify. It took a good 6 weeks to even get an appointment because they were so booked out. MRI was finally scheduled for 6 am last Wednesday and they said as soon as the doctor’s office opened I could call and get the results. The doctor beat me to it. He called me to let me know that the MRI showed a tumor the size of an apple on her tibia. He didn’t like that at all and so his office called CHOP to set up a visit with orthopedics and oncology. They explained that Ayva has osteosarcoma which is a rare bone cancer. Ayva has been in the hospital for the last few days for pain management. Even the IV morphine she’s getting is just making her pain tolerable. She will be getting her PET scan 6/12, chemo port and G-tube next week. She will then start 12 weeks of chemo. I’ll be able to give more information after getting the PET scan results. Ayva is only 14 and has her whole life ahead of her. We need lots of prayers and with all of the driving I will be doing back and forth to CHOP, the time there while getting chemo, it’s going to hit the bank account hard since I won’t be able to work.

From, Lori

With this diagnosis comes numerous trips to Philadelphia or KOP, tolls, meals on the go, Uber for Steve to get to and from work due to only having one vehicle, one parent being with Ayva, and the other parent with Gracie who needs just as much love and support during this time of the unknown. With just one car in their family, Steve and Lori are doing their best to be present for both girls but also making sure to bring in money to keep their household going. Steve works as an EMT and Lori is a self-employed Massage Therapist with a significantly decreased work schedule so she can spend most of her time at CHOP with Ayva. No parent caring for a child with cancer should have to be burned with whether or not they can afford gas to support their child at the next treatment appointment, where they are getting money for a meal, or if they will make rent or the electric bill. Although they have much love and support from family and friends, we are hoping to raise money to help Steve and Lori with financial peace of mind during this challenging time to have just one added stress lifted.

If you can't provide financial support, we do ask for your prayers, positive thoughts and good vibes

Thank you all!