All in for Team Nora

This is a Special Alert from the Headquarters of Team Nora: the New Ro Moms Subdivision:

We need your prayers, positive thoughts, and generosity now more than ever. Many of you know that Nora, age 9, has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for Stage 4 cancer/ Wilms’ Tumor. Her course of treatment has been complicated by some very scary, life- threatening side effects. It’s time to rally for the kindest girl we know; for the most thoughtful, giving family in the universe. Let’s get Nora’s story out there and show her and the Coskery-Guzinskis that our love and support can help move their mountain.

Funds will support basic needs, such as: groceries, utilities, etc; the increased costs of having more adults living in the home to take care of the children; assisting these additional family members in paying for airline tickets, taxis, and essentials; medical co-payments, pharmaceutical co-payments, tests or treatments not covered or partially covered by insurance; meeting insurance deductibles; out-of-network specialists and therapies; travel expenses to and from the hospital and treatment clinic in New York City, including gas, milage, tolls, and parking garage fees; therapeutic activities and holistic support to help Nora detoxify and strengthen her body after treatment has concluded; tutoring services as needed, and; anything else costly that may appear unexpectedly along this journey.

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Here's Nora's story:

On the morning of December 14, 2023, Nora had an appointment with her pediatrician to look at a skin rash. Nothing urgent- she planned to go straight to school afterward. Until this point, Nora was a happy, healthy 4th grade girl, doing gymnastics, playing with friends, her identical twin sister, and toddler brother, singing along to Taylor Swift, and preparing for Santa’s arrival.

But during this doctor’s exam, a large mass was discovered. She was immediately sent to the hospital for advanced testing- then admission- for urgent treatment.

Nora’s extended family was contacted and they began making plans from Georgia, Montreal, and Portugal to rush in to help.

On December 19th, Nora endured a 10-hour surgery. Her right kidney, adrenal gland, ureter, and a large lymph node mass were removed. A port for chemotherapy was implanted. Nora recovered in the hospital for 10 days after, including Christmas. She began radiation in her abdomen along with chemotherapy. Her first visit with her twin, Hattie, included instant snuggles and a declaration that, “this bed is only comfortable with Hattie in it.”

Nora was ecstatic to get home for New Year’s Eve, where everyone celebrated wearing her favorite color, pink. She has received out-patient treatment since, traveling from New Rochelle into Manhattan for chemotherapy, blood work, and radiation to target spots in her lungs. Doctors expect this protocol to continue consistently for at least 6-9 months.

These treatments have been unbelievably tough on Nora: she lost so much weight so quickly, lost her beautiful, long hair, her smell and appetite are unkindly sensitive, and she can barely stomach the smallest bits of food. She’s dealt with vomiting, often during the night, interrupting rest and sleep. Her anxiety is constant, causing dry heaves and panic. She has neuropathy in her hands and feet, a vocal tremor, and complex migraines. She was rushed to the emergency room with left sided facial-limb semi-paralysis that affected her speech and movement. A Code Stroke Team ruled out brain bleeds, hypoxia, and tumors, but Nora continued to suffer. Her platelet count crashed. She began vomiting blood, bruising and bleeding easily, and was hospitalized to receive blood transfusions, platelets, hydration, and antibiotics for an infection. Once stable, she went home and bravely continued out-patient chemo and radiation the very next day. Less than a week later, she was admitted into the hospital again. Nora underwent countless blood draws, cat scans, x-rays, ultrasounds and other testing. She fearfully asked her mother if she had more cancer. “Am I going to die?” she whispered.

Once again, Nora is faced with a rare diagnosis- moderate Veno Occlusive Disease. Her liver and spleen are not functioning properly, an effect of the chemotherapy she’d been receiving. She is currently hospitalized again- this time for days- or weeks- to effectively treat, and hopefully reverse, this disease. Doctors hope her one kidney can handle the necessary medications. Many with this diagnosis require a liver transplant.

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We, moms, have sat with Ben and Brittany, from that first initial, shocking, post-diagnosis visit- to “playdates” with Hattie, Nora and Miles (quiet playdates asking friends not to bounce with excitement have given us all even greater respect for teachers!)- to planning a bake sale for Crowns of Courage (“Brittany, maybe let’s fundraise for other charities after Nora’s treatments are finished?”… we all know how that turned out- the pecan bars were my favorite)- to encouraging them to even consider allowing us to create this page. It’s taken a tribe of moms and dads, multiple approaches, gentle reasoning, and tough love to finally get this up and running.

We know so many of us feel hopeful, but helpless. We’re not.

Our support will provide the financial safety net needed when a child undergoes urgent, often toxic treatments for a rare, advanced cancer. It will lighten the burden of conquering this alone.

Knowing Ben and Brittany, every unused penny will pay it forward, helping others just as others helped them (we’ll just need to convince them to hold off until Nora’s treatments are done!). We imagine that when this long chapter ends, the entire family can travel to Italy for Nora’s dream vacation. A healthy, happy family lugging bags through the airport; smiling with every melodic Italian phrase heard; tasting the finest treats (Nora’s appetite is back!) and soaking in the sights and culture.

We keep repeating, “this isn’t forever.” But it certainly can feel like it. So until their new chapter begins, we’ll be right here, thick or thin.

We thank you so much for helping Nora, and our dearest friends. We are so incredibly grateful.

Team Nora- NRMs