When Jena was born we noticed several birth marks. At the time there was no reliable genetic testing to confirm or deny a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis. Doctors dismissed my concerns as being a paranoid mother. As she grew older and began school it became apparent that Jena was just a bit different than the other kids in how she processed information and social skills. After years of frustration and much arguing she was finally diagnosed with NF. Jena shows the burden of NF in several ways. She has learning disabilities that include no short term memory, no visualization skills, and speech fluency problems. Socially and emotionally she functions relatively to someone several years younger. Physically she has cafe au lait spots, auxillary freckling, scoliosis, lisch nodules, right sphenoid wing dysplasia(missing part of the eye socket), chronic severe stomach pain, two optic gliomas (chiasm and left nerve), a low grade glioma in the pons area of her brain stem, and a plexiform neurofibroma behind her right eye that grows into her brain as well. Currently we take things a day at a time. She is nearing puberty which is prime time for tumor growth with the surge of new hormones in the body. Chemotherapy will begin as soon as more growth is seen in the brain stem tumor. While most girls biggest worry in their teen years is which boy to crush on this week, Jena will be dealing with tumor growth and countless medical appointments. Every dollar donated gets researchers one step closer to solving the NF puzzle and gives Jena a little more hope for a normal life. Thank you for your time and I hope you can help! --Jennifer Bird

UPDATE: JUST FOUND A DONOR THAT IS WILLING TO MATCH FUNDS RAISED UP TO THE FIRST $3000!! SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HAS DOUBLE THE IMPACT NOW. LET'S FUEL THE CURE.

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