Meet Leyla, a 14-year-old who recently triumphed over Ependymoma, a type of brain tumor. Leyla's journey began when she started experiencing debilitating migraines that impacted her ability to attend school regularly. These migraines persisted for months, accompanied by constant fatigue that led Leyla to spend most of her days sleeping for the past 11 months.
After months of unsuccessful treatments for her migraines, Leyla was finally approved for an MRI. The results were alarming – a mass was discovered in her brain, leading to an immediate referral to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Within just 24 hours, Leyla underwent brain surgery, which confirmed the diagnosis of Ependymoma, a malignant tumor. The surgery successfully removed the entire tumor, although it had touched the top of her spine, necessitating the removal of the C1 plate.
Following the surgery, Leyla's treatment plan included 33 rounds of proton radiation therapy at UPENN Medicine. Despite the challenges she faced, Leyla remained a fighter, demonstrating remarkable strength and resilience throughout her treatment. While she missed her friends and family dearly, Leyla focused on resting and committing to her healing journey. Today, she undergoes regular scans every three months to monitor for any signs of the tumor recurring, ensuring that her health remains a top priority.
Over the past six weeks, Leyla and her mother stayed at an apartment near CHOP, allowing Leyla to receive treatment five days a week. Last Wednesday marked a significant milestone in Leyla's journey – she rang the bell, signifying the completion of her treatment and a victorious step forward in her battle against Ependymoma.
During our interactions, Laura, Leyla's mother, expressed Leyla's desire to go shopping. To support Leyla's recovery and lift her spirits, we provided gift cards for stores like Lululemon, PacSun, Garage, Victoria's Secret, and Hollister. These gifts were a small token of our admiration for Leyla's courage and determination.
Today, Leyla continues to work on regaining her strength through physical therapy, with the goal of rejoining her cheer team in the upcoming fall season. Leyla's resilience and positive outlook serve as an inspiration to us all, and we wish her continued success and good health on her journey ahead.
Leyla, we are so happy to have met you and we know that you will be back stronger than ever. You have a long life ahead of you which will be filled with health, cheer, and so much love and support from your family and friends! We love you and cannot wait to see what life has to offer you!
