Mahopac child fights for life after rare tumor diagnosis
Isabella "Izzy" Cashion's mother spoke with News 12 on Friday regarding her daughter's diagnosis and what she would like to see for the future of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma research.
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A 4-year-old child from Mahopac is fighting for her life after a rare tumor diagnosis.
Isabella "Izzy" Cashion's mother spoke with News 12 on Friday regarding her daughter's diagnosis and what she would like to see for the future of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma research.
According to the National Cancer Insititute, "Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fast-growing type of brain tumor that starts in the part of the brain stem called the pons."
The pons controls many vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and more.
The tumor affects 300 children per year in the United States.
Izzy's mom, Jennifer Janosko, says she first noticed something was not right with her daughter in August.
"On Aug. 13, me and my husband Isabella's swollen eye looked like it was crossing in. So, we went to the emergency room, and they did a CT scan, and they thought it was just a lazy eye or something minor. They found a mass on her brain stem, in specifically a place called the pons," said Janosko.
Janosko has been a pediatric oncology nurse for 12 years and says it was always one of the cancers she's feared the most.
She says the tumor is incurable, but that currently, Izzy is doing well.
"They said we caught it early. It was caught pretty much immediately, and we started radiation as soon as we could, which is why her doctors said she looks so good right now," she said.
The family has already raised about $160,000 through a GoFundMe.
Janosko says the funds will be used toward any medical bills that accrue, and the rest will be donated toward finding a cure.
Both Jennifer, and her husband Tim, both thanked their community for rallying together.
Anyone interested in getting involved, the Mahopac Fire House will be hosting a dinner and auction from 6-10 p.m. at 741 US-6 in Mahopac in honor of Izzy.
For more information, please visit www.shineforizzy.com
