Sixteen year old Nina Poeta is a cheerleader for Seymour High School and a talented gymnast and was having trouble with headaches while performing her routines. On Tuesday, November 19, 2013, she received an MRI of her brain because of these headaches. The next day her family was told to bring Nina to Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital where she was diagnosed with a mass on her brain. They were told the cancerous tumor Is located in her brain stem and can't be surgically removed. Nina was immediately fitted for a radiation mask and will begin radiation therapy on Monday, November 25th. She will be treated with radiation five days a week for a total of 30 visits at Smilow. The oncology team hopes this will shrink the tumor. This is not a cure and the mass may grow larger at any point in the future. Chemotherapy may be required, as well, depending on the outcome of the radiation.



This will be a very hard fight and so many people have asked how they can help! We are organizing this site with hopes of helping raise money for the Poeta family during this extremely difficult time. They will be looking at time away from work, medical bills and challenges still unknown. Thank you for your prayers, support and most of all love during this battle.



Dorie, John, Cara and, of course, precious Nina, will need as many thoughts, prayers and support as possible. We will fight hard, we will offer support, and we will be there to help Nina win this fight!



Please find it in your heart to donate and spread the word to as many people as possible (email this out please!!). Cancer has affected all of us in one way or another and we need to pull together and support this special family and their beautiful 16 year old daughter on her road to recovery. I appreciate that you have taken the time to read their story and even if a monetary donation is not possible please say a prayer for Nina and the Poeta family.

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