DENHAM SPRINGS — An 11-year-old Denham Springs girl battling a rare and aggressive terminal brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, has officially started a new clinical trial in hopes of slowing or stopping the growth of her tumor.
11-year-old Katie Tanton was accepted into the new TarGeT-A Clinical Trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, in the beginning of May.
She will now take two medications, Everolimus and Ribociclib, every day.
“Katie’s been feeling run down the last week since starting the new trial medications, but her spirits are there,” Katie’s mom, Breann Tanton said.
Juggling challenges
Since Katie’s diagnosis, the Tantons have been dealing with a multiple challenges, including flood damage to their home, forcing them to move.
“We can’t take her back to our current house because the roof leaked while we were here at St. Jude, and there is mold in all the kids’ rooms,” Tanton said. “Our landlord cannot afford to fix the roof and interior issues right now.”
The Tantons are almost moved out of that home, and are searching for somewhere to move, or park their camper, which they’re living in now.
“The camper needs some work and it’s pretty small for a family of 5,” Tanton said. “We’re looking for another that would accommodate us better.”
Growing bills
Katie’s new trial lasts two years, and requires monthly visits to Nationwide Children’s in Ohio.
“That first trip to Ohio cost us nearly $2,000 between diesel, food, a hotel on the way there and the way back,” Tanton Said. “Plus, the medications are not covered by the trial. We found out we’ll probably be getting medical bills for labs, clinic appointments, and any specialists that see her there, as none of that is covered with the clinical trial.”
Despite it all, Tanton is trying to be optimistic.
“I’m trying to stay positive, and I start praying from the moment I wake up each day that we’ve made the right decision for our daughter and that these experimental drugs work for her,” she said.
Helping the Tantons
Family friends set up a GoFundMe to help the Tantons with all of their growing expenses. You can donate here.
And on Saturday, May 30, Tanton’s family and friends are hosting a benefit dinner through Pete Williams BBQ. The dinner is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and runs until plates are sold out.
Plates cost $15 each and you can get smoked chicken or jambalaya. It’s happening at 110 Lasalle St. in Denham Springs, across from Walmart.
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