After a few weeks of minor tummy pain and then 2 sleepless nights, Justin and Gina were advised by their pediatrician on August 8, 2013 to take their almost 3-yr-old Mia (She will be 3 in November) to the Brenner's Children's Hospital ER to have x-rays done to determine what was causing such pain for their sweet girl. Several scans and xrays were completed and discovered a mass about the size of a grapefruit had developed in Mia's sweet little belly. Surgery was performed the following morning to biopsy the tumor to determine exactly what kind of tumor it is. Mia came through the surgery like a champ! The tumor was to be one of two types. Either a Wilms tumor or Neuroblastoma. Preliminary results revealed that the tumor was Wilms (a less aggressive cancerous tumor), but just before Mia was heading home to begin her journey with Wilms, official results showed that it was Neuroblastoma. After further scans and tests were completed, it was determined that this is a Stage IV cancer. The tumor is attached to her kidney and has spread some into her bones, bone marrow, and slightly into her liver. THIS CAN and WILL be treated successfully! Mia has a LONG road of aggressive treatments ahead of her. She started chemotherapy and will complete 6 rounds. After the 5th round, she will have the tumor removed and will head to Duke around January to complete the 6th round and will be there for a 3 month stay and stem cell transplant. Afterwards, she will return to Brenner's for radiation and Immunotherapy (a newer, successful form of treatment to prevent its return). All of this totaling about an 18 month treatment plan. Many of you know this family is unfortunately far too familiar with cancer. Gina lost her mother to it in February 2008 and just over 3 years later she lost her father in November 2011 to this horrible illness as well. Our goal for this page is to keep those who love Mia and her sweet parents, grandparents, aunts, uncle and cousin, up to date with any prayer requests that may arise through her little fight. For more updates check out: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayers-for-Mia/499120553502728 Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure.