Angelica H. - Quilt Finished in 2007

Born: March 9, 2004

Illness: Brain Tumor, Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma with some Pilimyxoid Features

Angelica's quilt was made by the group Let's Do It For The Kids for Love Quilts!  Thank you to everyone who helped with her quilt!

Angelica's Story

written by mom Rebecca

Angelica was a normal heathly 33 month old toddler until New Year's Eve 2006 when she started to have some right hand weakness.  We took her to St. Louis Children's Hospital and a catscan and MRI showed a large tumor in her brain.  Dr. Smyth, neurosurgeon, did a craniotomy and resection on January 2nd 2007 removing 99% of the tumor. The tumor was the size of a raquetball in her left temporal lobe pushing on her brainstem and thalamus.  Angelica had rightsided weakness after the surgery.  We were in the hospital for 8 days and sent home to recover.  On Feb. 2nd another MRI was done and it showed the tumor to be growing back fast. The tumor has wrapped itself around one of her main arteries.  The pathology came back that the tumor was a JPA, juenile pilocystic astrocytoma, with some PMA, pilomyxoid tumor.  Angelica went in to have a port-a-cath placed on Feb. 9th and chemo was started the same day.  She is on vincristine and carboplatin chemo regimen for 18 months.  On March 20th we had the first MRI since starting chemo and it showed the tumor to have stopped growing! Chemo is working!  Angelica is in OT and PT once a week for the rightsided weakness. She has improved greatly since surgery.  Her leg and arm are doing wonderfully but she still does not have use of her hand.

Angelica is a sweet, beautiful, strong little girl.

We love her so much. Please keep her in your prayers.

Please pray that the tumor goes away and she stays healthy.