Maria's Miracle

Today, there is no cure for a patient like Maria. Maria has been diagnosed with a DIPG. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a brain tumor found in the brain stem - specifically involving the pons. The pons controls essential functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eye movement, eyesight, and balance.

Unlike many brain tumors, a DIPG tumor cannot be surgically removed. Trying to operate on a brainstem glioma could cause severe neurological damage and could even be fatal. Further, Maria's tumor is not like most tumors because it is not a well-defined mass; her tumor's cancer cells are spread out between healthy brain cells.

Currently, the "gold standard" treatment for a DIPG patient is a combination of photon radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation and chemo, however, only will give temporary benefits. Although other types of cancer have had successful medical advances over the years, the standard treatment for a DIPG patient has not improved for more than 40 years. Many researchers are working hard to develop new treatments for DIPG, but again, no therapies are available that provide a cure for this disease.

Immunotherapies and clinical trials are in our future to improve Maria’s prognosis and quality of life. Large strides in understanding the biology of DIPG by researchers have come in recent years. There is now more of an idea of the genetic mutations causing DIPG, meaning they are able to search for potential drugs and using one’s own immune system to treat patients. Every DIPG patient is unique, including Maria.

Funds raised from Maria’s Miracle merchandise will go directly towards DIPG research and raising awareness.