#TINYMIGHTYTESS

GOAL MET!

Theresa is a 4-year-old from Valley Stream, NY
and we’re on a mission to raise $5,000 to send Theresa and her family on a dream trip to
Disney World and Give Kids The World
where they can make amazing memories together OUTSIDE of the hospital.

Our Theresa, “Tess’, was a spunky, sassy, funny, and endearing little girl before her diagnosis in January 2022. She was a petite little 3-year-old with big brown eyes and long curly blonde hair. She loved unicorns, butterflies, princesses, and absolutely anything pink! She loved going to school, playing with her baby sister, and hanging out with her family and friends. There wasn’t a story she didn’t love listening to or a song she didn’t love to sing and dance to. She was full of sunshine and laughter all the time! But, on Christmas Day of 2021, our whole world was rocked. Tess was brought into the ER at Cohen Children's Medical Center with, what we thought was stomach flu, but less than 12 hrs later she was admitted into the hospital due to an unknown mass found in her abdomen. It was then 12 hours later that we had doctors from oncology sitting at her bedside telling us she may or may not have cancer. I would be lying if I didn't say that our entire world was shaken in a matter of seconds. You immediately ask yourself so many questions “Why?" "How?” … and then the tears start rolling and the emotions you feel are truly uncontrollable. After what seemed like the longest week of our lives and after countless scans and tests our Tessy Monster was able to come home as we awaited the results of it all. On January 6th, 2022, Tess was officially diagnosed with malignant high-risk neuroblastoma. No one prepares you for this kind of news. There are no parenting books created for the "What Ifs" in life. Is there really a good way to find out your child has cancer? That their entire life is now going to change forever?

It has been 9 months since that initial diagnosis and shock hit us and, without a doubt, we still feel it every day. Due to the highly intensive treatment plan that Tess had to endure she missed out on almost a whole year of school; no playdates, no playground time, and no socialization with peers. Tess has lived a life of isolation from most of her family and friends over the last couple of months, it was the only way we could truly keep her safe. She has gone through 7 rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery, a STEM cell transplant, and 12 rounds of radiation, and the journey is still not over….

Since diagnosis Tess has shown us how strong and resilient she is. Her strength and will to fight have been truly incredible to watch. We could not be more proud of the little girl that she has become while going through all of this. Although Theresa’s treatment journey is not yet over, we are starting to see the rainbow at the end of this terrible storm. Her smile has begun to glow again, her laughter is heard in the house and she has regained some of that spunk and sass. As we continue this journey over the next couple of months, we are really looking forward to getting back to a sense of normalcy again. Tess is looking forward to getting back to school this Fall and our family is looking forward to having the opportunity to spend well-needed time with family and friends again. But, most of all, Tess is really excited that she is going to be able to fulfill a dream of hers by going to Disney World! It has been something she's been asking for since the beginning of her treatment and we are so happy that we are going to be able to make it happen for her!!

- Nicole Mege