Tessa Garry is a fun-loving, mischievous, adorable baby girl. She loves dancing to baby shark, munching on chocolate buttons, climbing up on her little armchair and driving her pink car. More than anything, Tessa loves to play with her three big siblings, Michael, Leo and Anna.
In December 2018, at just 14 months old, she was diagnosed with stage 4, high risk, neuroblastoma, a cancer of the central nervous system, and unfortunately the most life-threatening form of cancer for children.
The treatment Tessa requires is not available in Ireland, and therefore only option is to travel overseas. A fundraising committee in Castleknock are seeking to raise €375,000 by May 2020 to allow Tessa access to this potentially life-saving treatment. They are getting very close to the target with €347k raised to date.
'Little Miss Tessa' fundraiser
The next 'Little Miss Tessa' fundraiser will be a fun outdoor yoga class in Chapelizod, Dublin on Sunday September 8 at 11am. This is a beginners yoga class so yogis and non-yogis are welcome. You will need a yoga mat, blanket and water. To secure your ticket for this event, log onto Eventbrite .
Tessa is currently undergoing treatment in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, where she is receiving superb care. Tessa has a long battle ahead of her with several medical mountains to climb. In addition to chemotherapy, she will require surgery, stem cell transplantation, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, which if all goes to plan, she is expected to complete by May/June 2020.
Once this has been completed, she will need to travel overseas for treatment to reduce the chance that she will relapse, which is the biggest fear with neuroblastoma. Relapse is a huge concern with the disease, occurring in half of cases and, when it does occur, sadly survival rates are very low.
Best chance of recovery
After her initial treatment, Tessa's parents Mark and Orla plan to do everything they can to reduce the chance that Tessa she will relapse by having her take part in a cutting-edge clinical trial abroad, which will be expensive, but will give the happy little girl the very best chance to be cancer free.
If you would like to donate to the 'Little Miss Tessa' fund, please go to gofundme.com/f/help-tessa-be-cancer-free .
