Hi everyone! My name is Nova Rae Genender. I am 6 months old. I was born 7/8/2020 weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. I live in Valparaiso, Indiana with my mom, dad, and big sissy Ariah. I love to smile and laugh. Especially when big sissy pretends to eat my little belly. When I was 2 months old my mom found a small bump on my back. She knew it was abnormal and brought it up to my doctor at our next visit. My doctor told Mom that it was nothing to worry about and that it was most likely a superficial fatty mass. The bump and my back was getting bigger and really starting to worry Mom and Dad. We went to see my doctor again and he ordered imaging to be done for the next day. The next day on 12/11/2020 Mom woke me up from my nap to get me ready for my appointment and noticed that I wasn't moving my legs. She tried to move them around and pinch me but I couldn't feel anything. We rushed to the emergency room and I was immediately air lifted to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.
When I got to the children's hospital they put me in a big machine that took pictures of the inside of my body. The doctors found a mass growing inside of me that spread from my back to my chest and abdomen. The mass was pushed against my spine and that's what caused my little legs to stop working. The doctors cut open my back to take out part of the mass to help my spine but my legs still wont move. I was diagnosed with intermediate stage 3 neuroblastoma.
I was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve and my whole family was there to greet me. It was the best Christmas present I could ever have. Mom and Dad are scared for me but I'm a fighter. I wake up every day with a big smile. I'm trying my hardest every day to move my legs with Mom and Dads help. Soon I will start meeting with a physical therapist once a week to help me even more. I did my first treatment of chemo therapy and will go back to the hospital every 3 weeks to try and reduce the size of the mass.
With the love and support from all of my family, friends, and readers near and far, my future seems brighter and brighter every day. Join me on my journey to recovery.
Here is my gofundme if anyone wants to help out.
https://gofund.me/acac6ee9Thank you for all your love and support,
Love,
Nova and Family ❤
