CINCINNATI, Ohio — Within hours of UWK‘s report of a Denham Springs family forced to tent camp in Ohio for their daughter’s terminal brain cancer treatment, the family is now in a hotel with a promise for a roof over their heads for the remainder of the year.
Breann & Austin Tanton’s 11-year-old daughter Katie was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive terminal brain cancer that primarily affects children, at the beginning of the year. In May, Katie was accepted into into a new TarGeT-A Clinical Trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The trial involves her taking two daily medications, as well as attending monthly appointments in Ohio.
In the beginning, the Tantons were driving the nearly 2,000 miles between Denham Springs and Cincinnati for their daughter’s treatment, but that started to add up when you include hotel, gas, food and more. Both parents are without a job as their primary concern has now turned to their child’s life.
Shortly after the Katie started the trial, the Tantons learned their Louisiana Medicaid wouldn’t cover the cost, because it’s not accepted in Ohio. They soon decided to move to Ohio in order to get Ohio Medicaid, which would cover the cost of the trial.
However the Tantons haven’t been able to find a place to live in the Buckeye State without jobs, and recently resorted to tent camping in Cincinnati so be closer to the hospital. With it being the middle of the summer, they have been dealing with extremely hot and humid conditions.
Read more: From headaches to heartbreak: 11-year-old’s fight against terminal brain cancer
“Feels like we can breathe”
But now, there may be some relief on the horizon for the family of five.
“Feels like we can breathe again for a bit for sure!” Breann Tanton told UWK on Tuesday.
After UWK‘s report, many people called offering a camper or fifth wheel for the family, however that would not solve the family’s problem of needing an Ohio address. That’s when the Cajun Navy 2016 came up with an alternate housing plan, but in the meantime, the Tantons needed to get out of a tent and into a hotel.
Cajun Navy 2016 has paid for a hotel room for the family in Cincinnati through Thursday. After that, they’re booked at an extended stay suite through August 18. The goal is to give the Tantons enough time to find a rental home or apartment with Cajun Navy 2016 willing to pay the rent through the end of 2026. That way they will now have an Ohio address at their rental property.
“We were founded as neighbors helping neighbors and we feel blessed to be able to continue that mission,” Jon & Laurie Bridgers, founders of the Cajun Navy 2016, told UWK.
“We never imagined we would receive that kind of support and now with what the Cajun Navy is going to do for us, it’s just what we’ve been praying for!” said Breann Tanton.
It’s a sigh of relief—even though temporary—but for parents doing everything and anything in their power for their daughter, the help and prayers from their hometown right now means everything.
“It’s been an incredible response from our Louisiana neighbors and beyond! It finally feels like a little bit of the weight has been lifted. We’ve received so many kind and loving messages and over $5,000 in GoFundMe in the last 24 hours,” she added.
DONATE NOW TO TANTON FAMILY
Tanton said she was thankful to UWK for continuing the stay on their family’s story.
“We couldn’t have done it without y’all. We were trying to advocate for ourselves and we weren’t getting much support that way, even though posts were getting thousands of views, there wasn’t really any money coming in. Feels like we can breathe again for a bit for sure! We appreciate your team so much!”
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