MEET DANI

Pray for her.

Danielle, affectionately called Dani, is one of Calli's friends from cheer. Calli cheered with her last year at our gym in Willis and then was on the same team with her this year in The Woodlands. In October, Dani complained of being dizzy during cheer practices. Upon an initial once over by the Doc, he thought she had an inner ear infection and cold and gave her some meds. By December, things were getting worse and to the point where she couldn't tumble it was so bad. Danielle's mom took her back to the Dr. and asked for an MRI to be done. The MRI showed a 1" tumor on her Cerebellum. She had surgery the next day. The type of cancer is rare. It's Medullablastoma and treated with radiation and chemo.

She obviously had to quit cheer. She had to quit school and her teachers come out twice a week now. She just completed her radiation at the end of February and was given a month off before she starts chemo. Her Dr. allowed her to come to the teams last cheer competition in San Antonio and it was a good spirit lifter for Danielle. She's weak. She's lost 17 pounds. Nothing tastes good when she's not nauseous, she's lost most of her hair and your heart breaks for her. We went to dinner with her one night and it was good to see her laughing and smiling. The coaches let her stay with the team all day both days....kinda like a manager and I think she liked that. It sure beat sitting on the couch or sleeping all day. 

She starts chemo on April 9th. She will have to stay in the hospital for 6-7 days at a time getting constant chemo treatments. Then she'll be released for 30 days going back daily to check her blood levels, platelets, etc. That happens 4 times, hopefully within 4 months but there could be set backs.

Woodlands Elite held a fundraiser and blood drive for her....WOW! I was blown away, I can only imagine what Danielle and her family felt. Yes, these are some of the same OTCM that I have this love/hate relationship with, that organized this amazing event in honor of her. Keep in mind that they only came to the gym in May of 2009 and she had to quit in December 2009. Yet, they still don't want her to be forgotten. They held a silent auction that raised $11,000 and a blood drive that brought in 101 units of blood...all on Valentine's Day. I think that's pretty amazing!

We'll keep praying for her. I know, and her family knows, that God can heal her. Her spirits need to be lifted and one day she'll look back on this and see God's hand carrying her through. It does make me so grateful for the health we have and the realization that it could all change in AN INSTANT!