Phoebe is a smart, spunky kid! Her inner strength has been a tremendous asset to her in her healing over the last year and a half and will certainly continue to serve her well as she fights a recent recurrence. She was barely three when she was diagnosed (Dec. 08) with a very large brain tumor (ependymoma) in the fourth ventricle that was pushing up against the cerebellum and blocking proper flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. During the nine hour surgery to remove the tumor, many of her cranial nerves were damaged, resulting in the partial to complete loss (some permanent, some temporary) of function in the left side of her face, throat, and neck. She endured more than two months of radiation treatments. Over the next year, she re-learned how to eat, drink, and walk. Now she jumps and runs and dances and plays all day! She loves elaborate pretend games, her baby dolls, and fancy tea parties. In February 2010, a small tumor was found growing at the top of her spinal cord, at the base of the original tumor. The doctors tell us that there is no cure, but we are hopeful that a combination of conventional and complementary medicine, love, unceasing prayers and visualizations of perfect healing will cure our little girl. In the meantime, we do our best to be present with her every moment and fully enjoy her as she enjoys childhood. We have two wonderful people shaving their heads in Phoebe’s honor on March 15, 2010 in Ventura, CA: our dear family friend, Debora Rock, and Phoebe’s cousin, Eric Polzien. If you are moved by their love and dedication, we hope you’ll look for their participant pages on this website and consider making a financial donation to St. Baldrick’s Foundation.