Hi friends,
We are putting this fundraiser together for Mara, Ryan, and their 3yo daughter Alana Bennett.
In June, their world changed when their beautiful, bright, curly-haired little girl was diagnosed with CNS Neuroblastoma - a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer that only affects children within the first few years of life.
After an abrupt change in her vision, Alana was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Denver. In the ER, they discovered a sizable tumor had formed in her brain, large enough to impact the optic nerve of her eye. By the end of the week, they found themselves handing off their precious little girl to the neurosurgeons at Children's to remove the tumor. By month's end, Alana was beginning a 9-month run of increasingly intensive chemotherapies which will conclude with radiation therapy in Arizona.
Watching your child battle cancer is every parent’s worst nightmare. Alana was swept away from her home, her friends, and her school. Everything she has known in these formative years was taken from her overnight. These treatments are devastating and the toll on her tiny body has already begun. There is no going back, this will forever change and affect her life.
This is going to be a long, difficult road for the whole family. While they do have health insurance, there are still enormous costs they’re facing. Alana's ongoing medical care and future needs continue to develop as doctors individualize her treatment plan. She will undoubtably need the support of her family, doctors, and friends for all her life.
Alana is a truly miraculous little girl, genuine and full of life. She is scared, we all are, but she knows she is strong. Every day she breaks through the fear, makes her nurses and family laugh, and pulls each of us back to the joy in life.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
With Love,
Liz and Lily
