Lia Warrensford is a beautiful 9 month old baby girl who was just diagnosed with Optic Pathway Glioma. This tumor is inoperable.Lia has had a chemotherapy port implanted into her side at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida and she will soon begin chemotherapy to attempt to shrink this tumor, which is about the size of a small chicken egg.
We do not yet know what the side effects will be for Baby Lia.
This form of tumor will not go away as a result of chemo treatment. It is something Lia will battle for the duration of her life.
The tumor will begin to grow again, and Lia will have to endure chemotherapy approximately every 18 months to 2 years.The medical expenses are already mounting, and you can help Lia and her family by making a donation to help defray the costs of treatment and travel.
Please help Baby Lia through this traumatic experience.
Download Lia's Flyer #2 Here
You can help by passing out flyers, or puttign them up in local businesses.
Online donatations can be made using your bank account, debit card, or credit card at Paypal.com - a completely secure website.
Make the donations to LiaWarrensford@hughes.net
OR
take this direct link:
MAIL DONATAIONS:
Make check or money orders out to:
Constance Perry, Benefit of Lia Warrensford
OR
Constance Perry
and in the memo line add Benefit of Lia Warrensford
and mail to:
1565 Blackwelder Road, De Leon Springs, FL 32130
Some of Lia's family visit her at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women & Children in Orlando, Florida. You can see Lia's wound from having the chemotherapy port implanted in the largest photo in the collage above.CONTACT US HERE
WHAT IS OPTIC PATHWAY GLIOMA?
Alternative Names
Glioma - optic; Optic nerve glioma
Definition of Optic glioma:
Gliomas are tumors that grow in various parts of the brain. Optic gliomas can affect:
- One or both of the optic nerves, which carry visual information to the brain from each eye
- The optic chiasm, the area where the optic nerves cross each other in front of the hypothalamus of the brain
An optic glioma may also grow along with a hypothalamic glioma.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Optic gliomas are rare. The cause of optic gliomas is unknown. Most optic gliomas are slow-growing and non-cancerous (benign) and occur in children, almost always before age 20.
There is a strong association between optic glioma and neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).
Symptoms:
The symptoms are due to the tumor growing and pressing on the optic nerve and nearby structures. Symptoms may include:
- Involuntary eyeball movement
- One or both eyes may bulge outward
- Squinting
- Vision loss in one or both eyes
- Leads to eventual blindness
- May be a loss of peripheral vision or vision loss may be more general
The patient may show symptoms of Diencephalic syndrome, which includes delayed growth, loss of appetite and body fat, daytime sleeping and decreased memory and intellectual function.
Signs and tests:
A neurologic examination reveals a loss of vision in one or both eyes. There may be changes in the optic nerve, including swelling or scarring of the nerve, or paleness and atrophy of the optic disk.
The tumor may extend into deeper locations of the brain. There may be signs of increased pressure within the brain (intracranial pressure). There may be signs of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
The following tests may be performed:
- Cerebral angiography -- often not necessary, but if used, it shows a space-occupying mass
- Head CT scan or MRI of the head -- confirms the diagnosis and the exact location of the tumor
- Tissue removed from the tumor during surgery or CT scan-guided biopsy -- examined to confirm the exact type of tumor.
- Visual field tests -- can help determine how invasive the tumor is
Treatment:
Treatment varies with the size of the tumor and the general health of the person. The goal may be to cure the disorder, relieve symptoms, or improve vision and comfort.
Surgical removal may cure some optic gliomas. Partial removal to reduce the bulk of the tumor is feasible in many cases, which will minimize pressure-induced damage from the tumor.
Radiation therapy may be advised in some cases where the tumor is extensive and surgery is not possible. In some cases, radiation therapy may be delayed because of the slow growth that this tumor typically displays.
Corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling and inflammation during radiation therapy, or if symptoms return.
Chemotherapy could be useful in a number of children. Chemotherapy might be especially useful when the tumor extends into the hypothalamus.
Support Groups:
For organizations that provide support and additional information, see blindness resources.
Expectations (prognosis):
The outlook is highly variable. Early treatment improves the chance of a good outcome. Many tumors are curable with surgery, while others return.
Normally, the growth of the tumor is very slow, and the condition remains stable for long periods of time. However, in adults and some childhood cases where the optic chiasm is involved, the tumor behaves aggressively.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if you have any vision loss, painless bulging of your eye forwards, or other symptoms of this condition.
Prevention:
Genetic counseling may be advised for people with neurofibromatosis-1. Regular eye exams may allow early diagnosis of these tumors before they cause symptoms.
CONTACT US HERE
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