Chloe was diagnosed at just ten months old with an optic pathway glioma. This type of brain tumor is attached to the optic nerve, optic tract, and optic chiasm. For a few weeks before her diagnosis, we noticed that one of her eyes would shake and that she would turn her head to the side. Thankfully, we had a wonderful pediatrician who didn?t want to take any chances and referred us to CHOA.

At first, the doctors felt it was likely nothing serious, but they wanted to do an MRI before sending us home just to be safe. What was supposed to be a forty-five-minute MRI turned into a four-hour scan. When two nurses and the radiologist brought Chloe back into the room and shut the door behind them, our little world felt like it came crashing down. We received very little information that day, and it was almost two weeks before we were able to meet with her oncologist and truly understand the battle our little girl was about to face.

Chloe?s tumor was monitored every three months and remained stable until the summer of 2018. We were blessed with over a year before chemotherapy was needed. Unfortunately, her tumor showed significant growth between July and September of 2018. In October, Chloe had a port placed and began weekly chemotherapy treatments.

That year brought many ER visits. For a child on chemotherapy with a port, even the slightest fever can signal a serious infection in the body or the port itself.

In October of 2019, we were almost finished with Chloe?s first chemotherapy protocol when her MRI showed significant tumor growth. She was immediately pulled from treatment that day?only four doses short of completing the plan. A few weeks later she began a new chemotherapy drug, which thankfully kept her tumor stable for the next year. Chloe completed this second round of chemotherapy at the end of 2020 and was blessed with seven months off treatment.

In June of 2021, however, our oncology team felt it was no longer safe to wait due to new tumor growth. Chloe began her third round of chemotherapy, a combination of two drugs. This was the hardest treatment she had faced yet. It took months to get her severe sickness under control, and each treatment remained a challenge. Chloe completed this round in May of 2023.

In late October of 2023, Chloe?s MRI again showed tumor growth, and she began an oral chemotherapy medication. Unfortunately, her body reacted very poorly to the drug, and she had to stop after just 82 days.

In February of 2024, Chloe underwent surgery to place a new chemo port so she could begin another combination chemotherapy treatment. After two long hospitalizations, her medical team made the decision to stop one of the chemotherapy drugs because it was making her extremely ill. Chloe was admitted to the ICU, lost 10 pounds, and required a feeding tube. Thankfully, she was able to complete the rest of the year on the remaining chemotherapy.

In September of 2025, Chloe relapsed due to continued vision loss and thinning of her optic nerve. She began chemotherapy once again. Thankfully, after six months back on treatment, her vision has stabilized and may even be improving.

Chloe is also receiving several holistic treatments alongside chemotherapy to help her body better tolerate the treatments and hopefully allow her to remain on this therapy longer.

Chloe has faced more in her young life than most people ever will, yet she continues to fight with incredible strength and courage. Our family is so grateful for the love, prayers, and support that have carried us through the hardest days. As Chloe continues this battle, we ask that you please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Every act of kindness helps us continue to focus on what matters most: helping Chloe keep fighting and giving her the best chance at a healthy, happy future.