Help Ahana fight against Neuroblastoma

Raising funds to give Baby Ahana the lifesaving treatment she needs to survive stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. Little Ahana was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, at the tender age of 19 months old. Bubbly, energetic Ahana showed no symptoms until her parents noticed a very small lump on her back, which prompted them to take her to the paediatrician. Radiological investigations were performed and the dreadful news was received that Ahana had stage 4, high-risk neuroblastoma, and the primary tumour was located in the mediastinum. Further diagnostic testing revealed metastatic bone disease as well as bone marrow infiltration. On diagnosis, the tumour was compressing the spinal cord and lungs, her heart was displaced and her left vocal cord was paralysed. Ahana was seen by many doctors of different specialities at the time of her diagnosis and all of them were bemused that she had not shown any symptoms as she could still walk and breathe normally despite the colossal tumour compressing major vital organs. Ahana received urgent first-line chemotherapy and after 7 cycles there was still an incomplete response. She then received second-line, more aggressive, chemotherapy to which the metastatic disease responded but the primary tumour remained active and had not reduced in size. It was at that stage that Ahana’s parents were informed that surgery was not viable and after several enquiries, it was clear that surgery was impossible in their home country. Ahana’s parents sprung into action and virtually consulted with the team at Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, who advised that a resection could be attempted. They rushed over to Barcelona within one week of receiving the news that surgery was not possible in their home country. Evaluations and surgery were scheduled for the same week of their arrival but unexpectedly on the very first day, Ahana began experiencing difficulty in breathing. A CT scan revealed that there was exponential growth of the tumour together with a significant pleural effusion and right lung collapse. The heart was once again displaced, and the tumour was wrapped around the aorta, oesophagus and other vital structures. Such growth within a short time came as a surprise to the surgeons and oncologists, resulting in surgery being pushed forward to allow for further investigations. Due to the symptomatic pleural effusion and local progression of the disease, Ahana had a drain inserted for the pleural effusion and was started on a new regimen of chemotherapy to stabilise the disease. Ahana tolerated the chemotherapy well and the chest tube/drain was removed. On the same day of the removal, she was started on an oral inhibitor. Shockingly, 2 hours after the first dose she collapsed. She started vomiting, her body turned cold, her oxygen dropped and no blood pressure reading could be obtained. She was rushed to ICU where acute cardiogenic shock and congestive heart failure were found. She was put on inotropes and intubated for cardiorespiratory support. Miraculously, Ahana recovered with intensive care support and was able to regain cardiac function, allowing her to be weaned off the ventilator. During this time, the team fortunately also found the cause for the exponential tumour growth and Ahana was started on a new inhibitor to target the mutation causing the growth. The tumour has responded to the new inhibitor rendering surgery viable. Following surgery, Ahana still requires radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and the bivalent vaccine to prevent relapse of the disease.