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 Claudia
Smith, a local kindergartner from Allamuchy, NJ, has been diagnosed with
a brain tumor. The type of tumor Claudia has is a pontine glioma or brainstem glioma, which is an aggressive malignant tumor. Currently, surgical treatment for this type of cancerous tumor is not an option. DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) is a disease which strikes at the heart of childhood and it is a disease in desperate need of a cure. In their quest for a cure, DIPG children must move from one experimental protocol to other enduring treatments with many side-effects which would be unacceptable with any other diagnosis. The cruelty of this disease cannot be denied. Claudia’s family is actively seeking the latest advancements / treatment regimens for this type of cancer. She has completed radiation and steroid therapy, and is currently part of a clinical trial conducted by Dr. Kathy Warren at the National Institute of Health in Maryland. As Claudia continues to undergo treatments and she and her family deal with the physical and emotional hardships of fighting this disease, financial support is needed by her family from friends and supporters to help with funding for testing, medicine, treatments, appointments, and hospital visits. |
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