My daughter, Brenna, was a fun loving kindergartner without a care in the world.  Never sick a day in her life, she loved to play soccer, dance, do arts and crafts and spend time with her friends and family. When she started having excruciating abdominal pain, the original thought was appendicitis.  After an emergency CT scan, a mass on her adrenal gland was found.  We met with the surgeon and oncologist who delivered unfathomable news - that the tumor was inoperable; she would need a biopsy and then begin treatment immediately.  The type of tumor, neuroblastoma, could take years to eradicate, and eventually Brenna could succumb to this.  The time frame I received was 2-20 years. 
 
The day of surgery was truly a miracle.  The surgeon was able to remove the whole tumor and after receiving the results of the biopsy and bone marrow, we found out the tumor was completely encapsulated and that no malignancy had touched any part of her organs.  Due to this wonderful report, Brenna was diagnosed with stage 1, neuroblastoma, and has been able to resume all the joys in her life without having to go through any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.  She is my "Brenna the brave."  She is a fighter.  She is a hero.
 
Written by Michele Snyder, Brenna’s Mom
August 2011