Sloane is a precocious, silly, and razor-sharp 3 ½ year-old girl. She is a twin sister and daughter of two loving parents. She is also the only person to be diagnosed with both ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor) and a pre-cancer caused by myelodysplastic syndrome.
Sloane spent her first birthday in the hospital recovering from emergency brain surgery. She had been diagnosed with ATRT, a rare cancerous tumor in the brain. The removal of a six centimeter tumor was just the beginning. The next twelve months were marked with countless hospital stays as Sloane received 52 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of proton radiation.
Through it all, Sloane’s strength and warm glow defied comprehension. She was so cooperative and brave, pulling up her shirt to show the nurses where her port is and giving everyone a smile or a wave hello. After a year of treatment she rang the bell signifying that chemotherapy was over. We celebrated and hoped it was the end of this nightmare, but God had another plan for us.
A few months later the cancer was back, this time in the spine. This meant more doctors and more treatment for this courageous two-year-old child. An Ommaya reservoir was implanted into her head and Sloane received chemotherapy once again. Through it all, Sloane still thrived, meeting all of her milestones and never letting her illness dull her infectious personality and sassiness.
Despite Sloane’s resilience we were once again hit with devastating news. Sloane developed a secondary pre-cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) as a result of her previous treatments.
Now 3 ½ years old, this brave little girl is fighting two forms of cancer and needs your help.
Sloane is a hero to everyone who meets her, but you could become her hero!