By Joel Langton
Poor Mia Maria Reyes. The Ruben Chavira Elementary first grader has gone from starting school to being hooked up to a myriad of tubes as doctors fight to keep her alive.
Doctors give the little, brown-eyed beauty little chance of winning her battle, but family members say that’s nonsense. “I know that God has a plan and that he is going to heal my beautiful little baby girl,” said her mom Rose Hernandez. Her father is Jose Reyes.
Their journey started Oct. 27, when she was taken to the doctor after complaining of headaches and blurred vision. Her doctor, Dr. Jose Oviedo, immediately sent her to the Val Verde Regional Medical Center emergency room for lab work and an MRI.
Within minutes of the scan, a lime-sized tumor was discovered and within hours she was being taken to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center by ambulance.
Doctors diagnosed her with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma tumor. The Childhood American Cancer society calls DIPG one of the deadliest childhood cancers. According to the website, www.defeatDIPG.org, DIPG is a brain tumor found in a part of the brain stem called the pons. The pons controls essential bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eye movement, eyesight, and balance. About 300 children per year receive this diagnosis.
“It was a shock, very scary,” said Rose, of the diagnosis. “In the blink of an eye, my daughter was very sick, fighting for her life.”
Instead of learning how to read and 2 plus 2, Mia, a 51-pound 6-year-old was fighting for her life. She took enough punches in the battle that she dropped 20 percent of her body weight, down to 42 pounds, less than a month after she was diagnosed with DIPG.
Doctors have told the family she has 3 to 12 months left to live.
Her mom has documented the family’s nearly month-long journey via the Facebook page, “Mia Marie Reyes battling DIPG”
A friend of the family started a Gofundme campaign that is keeping Mia’s seven brothers and sisters in food, Pampers and the power on. “We are just trying to take care of our family while we help Mia fight,” Rose said. “Her Dad isn’t able to work right now and we still have bills coming in.”
Although dollars are important for the family, there is something more important to Rose. “I ask everyone to just pray for my daughter. If people can donate, that’s fine, but please, whatever you do, please pray for my Mia,” Rose said.
