Dyan Fox

In November 2015 we took my three-year-old daughter to the doctor because we noticed her right shoulder was sitting much higher than her left.

This appointment led to an MRI that led to the discovery of two large tumors in her body, one growing along her spine that was causing severe scoliosis, and one on her left adrenal gland/kidney that, because of its location and shape, was thought to be Neuroblastoma.

She went through more scans, and we prepared for her to start chemo after her biopsy surgery results came back. She even had a broviac catheter placed so we could start chemo while she recovered in the hospital.

But eventually, we got final pathology that her tumors were benign.

She was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis (NF1), which causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body. Like cancer, NF has no cure, and hardly any medicines to treat the tumors once they start causing problems. But, unlike cancer, she'll never be in remission from this disease.

I write these books to honor my daughter and other kids like her, who fight big battles with a bravery and strength that far exceeds their small size.