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| Tiffany and Her Mom at Seattle Children's Hospital |
Who ever knew that so much fight could come from this sweet
face and this gentle heart? Tiffany Larson’s life was full of horseback rides, whimsical
crafts, and playing endlessly with her three sisters Alexis, Olivia, and
Katrina. Her little life knew nothing of the pricks of a nurses’ needle, the
burns of radiation, the nausea of chemo, and the nerve damage of just too much
cancer treatment. Until, that is, her startling diagnosis with Medulla Blastoma
(brain cancer) at age 6 in January of 2015.
The diagnosis came after she kept telling her mother that
she was hearing something. She said that the only time that she couldn’t hear
it was on the bus. It was so loud on the bus! Her parents Nathan and Malia Larson worried, as it didn’t
go away. With her doctor’s help her mother arranged for an MRI scan.
That was when the
doctors found it! This little 6 year
old had a brain tumor.
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| Seahawks, Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, Visit Tiffany at Seattle Children's Hospital |
After an emergency 10 hour brain surgery at Seattle Children's Hospital she soon began 6 weeks of
daily radiation plus chemo. One week into the chemo/radiation treatment she was admitted to Children's Hospital for severe nausea. This severe nausea had her throwing up every 20-60
minutes 24 hours a day for three months straight in addition to the piercing
nerve pain. The nerve pain was in her extremities and her intestines. At that particular time, Tiffany stayed at the hospitalized for three months.
After a short break from the
chemo and radiation, she began strict chemo cycles (8 six-week cycles of three
different types of chemo).
This would bring
her 40 infusions in 11 months.
Two cycles into it she was hospitalized again for another month for the same symptoms as before.
Needless to say, this has been quite a mountain to climb for such a tiny and fragile little girl and her family.
In our community on the Eastside of Seattle hearts and prayers rallied. It seemed hard to believe that this once healthy child was now so sick. The kids and their families at her elementary school were so worried. They started wearing “Tiffany Strong” bracelets and t-shirts. Love poured out…
Through it all, Tiffany showed her strength and endurance as she fought her personal battle. This was a daily battle and sometimes even a moment-by-moment battle. She faced unbelievable obstacles. Even so, her parents say that she did not lose heart because of the hope within her. With the middle name of Faith, she was well grounded. She knew that God was present with her, sustaining her, and had a plan for her life.
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| The Larson Family in their Tiffany Strong Shirts |
With cause for great joy, Tiffany made a huge stride on March 16, when she completed her last chemo!
Fifteen months of relentless fighting had passed – a celebration. She is currently in remission but still in medical treatment. Although the road to recovery is not yet complete, Tiffany has reached this new milestone. Family and friends are so excited for her new chemo-free stage with their sister, daughter, and friend: Tiffany!
She has fought a good fight and finished this leg of the race. Her hospital nurse recently said, “She came into this as a fragile flower and has come out of this a force to be reckoned with.”
This fragile flower, little miss Tiffany, has become so strong!
When life seems impossible Faith arises. She does not lose hope. She conquers with strength that can only come from the mercy of God in the middle of great pain. The nurses’ pricks came, the burns of radiation, the nausea, damaged nerves, and relentless infection. Yet, in the midst of it all Tiffany showed the strength and endurance of one who was trained for this battle! She has truly become Tiffany Strong, demonstrating the heart of a valiant ‘Super Girl.’
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| The Day of Tiffany's Last Chemo!!!! #TiffanyStrong |
