A St. Lucie County family is holding onto every moment with their 3-year-old daughter after a devastating diagnosis and they\u2019re not facing it alone.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Waner, described by her parents as a \u201cvery girly girl\u201d who loves ballet, dancing, music, and the color purple, is now in the fight of her life after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor.<\/p>\n
Even in a hospital room, her personality shines. Cozy in a red wagon and dressed in a purple princess gown, Elizabeth still finds ways to light up the space around her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the tumor hit, you couldn\u2019t not notice her,\u201d her father, Mark Waner, said. \u201cShe wouldn\u2019t let you not notice her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gina Waner, Elizabeth’s mom, said it seems everything changed in a single day. After dropping Elizabeth off at daycare like any other morning, she noticed something was wrong when she picked her up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer left eye just turned inward and it just stayed stuck,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Initial visits to an optometrist and ophthalmologist showed no issues with her eyes. But an MRI at a children\u2019s hospital revealed the heartbreaking cause: a tumor on Elizabeth\u2019s brain stem.<\/p>\n
She was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, these tumors make up only about 10% of pediatric brain tumors.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has like the second rarest form of the high-grade glioma you can have,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n
Since the diagnosis, Elizabeth\u2019s condition has worsened quickly. Within weeks, her parents said she has lost most of her mobility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin the past month, she lost like all her mobility. She can\u2019t walk, she can\u2019t stand on her own, she can\u2019t eat anything but soft food, she can barely drink water,\u201d her family shared. \u201cIt\u2019s so quick how much she\u2019s fading.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Waner family has put their lives on hold, traveling from St. Lucie County to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital in Tennessee, where Elizabeth is receiving specialized care.<\/p>\n
Treatment options are limited. The tumor cannot be surgically removed, and while radiation may help ease some symptoms, it is unlikely to be a cure. Now, the family is facing unimaginable decisions \u2014 shifting from trying to extend time to making the most of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we can do is try to make sure that she\u2019s comfortable with what she has and what she has left,\u201d her parents said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur number one goal is to make sure the time she has left, she\u2019s the happiest,\u201d her family said.<\/p>\n
As the Waner family navigates this difficult journey, support from the community has been growing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s insane to see how many people came together for us not even knowing who we are,\u201d her father, Mark Waner, said.<\/p>\n
A fundraiser to support the family is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse in Port St. Lucie. The event is hosted in partnership with Men At Arms, and 10% of all meal purchases during that time will go directly to the Waner family.<\/p>\n