Thalia - Juneau

At just 10 days old a cyst was found on Thalia’s tiny body by accident, it was not visible from the outside. It was removed when she was 2.5 months at SCH, it was a benign Germ Cell Tumor, Sacrococcygeal teratomas . Thalia was getting labs and an ultrasound of the area every 3 months. When Thalia was 16 months old her GCT came back, it was resected and this time it was malignant. Thalia and her mother were set to relocate to Seattle from Juneau, AK for 4 months starting in November 2019, Thalia’s dad traveled back and forth from Idaho often. Upon arrival at SCH Thalia had a CT that showed another tumor had grown back in the same spot in those two short months. Thalia’s third surgery to the area was set for a few weeks out with chemo to start 10 days after that. Thalia managed though chemo fairly well. She did eventually need an NG tube as this already picky eater became even pickier. Thalia ended treatment 2/20/2020. On 2/24/2020 her port was removed and 2/25/2020 Thalia and her mommy headed back to Alaska. Since treatment Thalia has been thriving. She is learning and growing every day, she is waiting for the day she can go to school.

Katie’s handprint helped financially; I am a single mother. I went on FMLA, but I only had enough leave for about two months of the 4 months we would be gone.