Julia "Reese" Klauer was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor (medulloblastoma) in January 2009. She was only 6 years old. The tumor was surgically removed on 1/14/09. Post surgery, she was diagnosed with a rare condition called 'posterior fossa syndrome'. She was unable to talk, walk, use her arms or even swallow in the first days post-op due to swelling in the brain. After over 2 weeks at VCU Medical Center, she was sent to inpatient rehabilitation at Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, VA for almost 3 weeks. Over the next few months she regained the ability to eat, speak and even walk again. She still participates in physical and occupational therapy to strengthen her core and hone her fine motor skills. She receives speech therapy to enhance her ability to process and sequence language. She has also returned to school full time.
Reese's treatment protocol called for 30 days of daily radiation to the head and spine. Then she endured 4 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant. Her treatment was complete in September 2009. She will continue to have MRIs every 3 months for 2 years and every 6 months for a total of 5 years. There have been lots of ups and downs for Reese and her family through this journey but one thing has remained consistent throughout - her determination to beat this awful disease. She is a hero to so many for her strength, courage, determination and perseverance. As we like to say... don't just live strong, live ReeseStrong!
To learn more about Reese's incredible story of struggle and triumph, please visit her family's blog: