notasenator: Tori is a beautiful six year old...

Tori is a beautiful six year old girl who has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis or NF1. NF causes tumors to grow on the nerves of the body.

Tori has three tumors that need treatment. She has an optic nerve glioma on each eye and a tumor on cerebellar peduncle that requires surgery. The tumors on her optic nerves have already caused significant vision loss in her left eye including a loss of color vision in that eye. Although this will most likely never improve, chemotherapy is required to prevent any more vision loss.

Tori will have brain surgery on February 27th. She will be hospitalized for a week and then she will regain her strength at home for several weeks. Once she is strong enough, she will start on chemotherapy to hopefully stop the growth of her tumors. Chemotherapy is expected to last over a year.

During Tori’s treatment, her mom Michelle will not be able to work. There will also be additional expenses such as gas and meals away from the home. Doctors estimate that she will be out of work completely for at least three to four months, and on a partial schedule with Tori’s chemotherapy after that.

Tori has an older sister, an older brother, and an older stepbrother at home as well. She is currently in kindergarten. Tori was adopted from the foster care system. Her adoption was finalized in December of 2011.

Despite everything that Tori has gone through in her life, she always lights up the room with her beautiful smile and loving personality.

Tori, my niece, will be going into her first surgery on Monday. My older sister fought for years as a foster mother to bring Tori and her brother out of the system and ensure a place in a loving and stable home. She has worked with the kids to overcome the developmental difficulties they faced and finally was able to finalize the adoption late last year.

Almost immediately after, Tori was diagnosed with NF1.

My sister will be out of work for months to care for her beautiful little girl, and has set up a Pledgie account to try to offset the loss of income and medical expenses.

Please visit this link and donate whatever you can.

This is a horrible thing for a little girl to have to go through, and anything to make the road easier for her will be greatly appreciated.