A devastated family has revealed how they noticed one subtle sign that led to a tragic diagnosis for their baby girl.
In 2021, Lola was a healthy, thriving infant, hitting her milestones and completing the Ross family.
Parents Naomi and Aaron - from New South Wales, Australia - were overjoyed to see their older children, Toby, 11, and Maya, 7, embrace their new baby sister.
But at just 10 months old, their joy turned to heartbreak when doctors delivered the devastating news that Lola had cancer.
Naomi and Aaron have since opened up to News.com.au about the devastating circumstances.
“Lola was such a happy and smiley little baby, we just adored her,” Naomi said. “We never imagined anything like this could ever happen to us.”
Initially, Lola’s symptoms seemed minor - a little vomiting and a slight crookedness to her smile.
Naomi and Aaron dismissed these as normal childhood occurrences. Even a preference for using her right arm over her left did not seem alarming at first.
But Naomi’s intuition told her otherwise. “One day, she just looked unwell and a bit blank. I knew in my stomach something was not right, so we took her to the hospital.”
Doctors ran tests after noticing Lola’s crooked smile and her reduced use of her left arm.
“We just had a feeling that something wasn’t right,” Aaron recalled. “The doctors were talking behind a window, and when they finally came in, they told us, ‘We found something.’ Our hearts sank.”
A CT scan revealed a dark mass on Lola’s brain. By morning, she was in surgery.
After eight hours of surgery, doctors informed the family that they had removed a tumor the size of a mandarin from Lola’s brain.
A biopsy confirmed their worst fears - Lola had an embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR), a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer with no established targeted treatment.
“It was really confronting seeing her after surgery, with tubes everywhere,” Aaron said. “But we were just so thankful she was alive.”
Lola began high-dose chemotherapy just before her first birthday.
Despite the grueling treatment, a follow-up scan revealed residual cancer, necessitating a second operation, more chemotherapy, and radiation.
Her final treatment ended on Christmas Eve, allowing the family to celebrate what would tragically be their last Christmas with her.
In early 2022, the Ross family created precious summer memories with Lola. But on February 2, an MRI revealed the devastating news that the treatments had failed.
Doctors informed Naomi and Aaron there were no more options. “That was the gut-wrenching moment,” Naomi said. “We knew it was the beginning of the end.”
Lola sadly passed away on March 26, 2022.
“We didn’t wake up knowing it was the last day,” Naomi said. “But she deteriorated quickly. All of us sat on our bed together, cuddled, sang songs, and talked to her.”
Lola passed away peacefully at home that evening.
Since Lola’s passing, the Ross family has worked to honor her memory and raise awareness about childhood cancer.
They commemorate her in small but meaningful ways, such as including her name on a Christmas stocking and bringing her photo to family Santa pictures.
“Keeping Lola’s spirit and name alive is a big part of our healing,” Aaron said. “We just try to do the best we can and keep her close.”
The couple also attended a talk at the Children’s Cancer Institute, where they found hope in advancements in childhood cancer research.
They are committed to raising awareness and funds to help other families.
“You hear about bad things happening in the world, but you never think it will happen to you,” Naomi said. “While we couldn’t save Lola, we hope to make a difference."
Lola's family is raising money in support of the Children's Cancer Institute's Christmas Appeal.
