...And Just Like That Our Lives Were Changed Forever

Heather is a 15 year old Chesterton High School student and a teen Leader at Crossroads Family Church in Portage, IN. She is truly an extraordinary child,  devoted to her faith. She enjoys P90X and Insanity work out DVD’s and she loves Walt Disney World. Last July her and her father completed a 3 mile Mudathalon in Valparaiso. That's her in the picture wearing the big smile and the finisher medal.

In September Heather started complaining of headaches and double vision.  Heather never complains about anything. After several visits to the eye doctor we were told she needed an MRI. On October 28, 2013 that MRI turned into the words no parent wants to hear, “Mr. and Mrs. Serafin Heather has Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma DIPG, an inoperable brain stem tumor. Heather has 3 months to live if you choose to do nothing.  Approximately 9 months if you choose radiation. There are clinical studies…” Those words still echo in my head today.

Since that day Heather has been through a lot; more than any child should ever have to endure.  33 rounds of radiation paired with chemotherapy twice a day.  We have been using natural supplementation to strengthen her body and we have seen miraculous things happen for her such as a 45% reduction in the length of the tumor and 26% reduction in the width of the tumor along with NO BRAIN SWELLING!

During this first phase of the clinical study she tried to do her school work and her work out routine but there had to be a great deal of modification because of the changes taking place in her body. This type of cancerous brain tumor affects your motor skills and the current treatments wreck havoc on your body. The school work was more than trying because the tumor had caused her to start seeing double all of the time, you can imagine how tough that is.  

Part two of the clinical study included two types of chemotherapy and was much harder on her body. For one week per month, on a daily basis, she took the trial chemo in the morning and then in the evening she took the trial chemo and TMZ.  This combination proved to be too much for her platelets and she had to stop the clinical study. I think at this point most people would panic and fall into fear but we are a faithful family with faithful friends and we believe that Heather will be cured.

Currently we are waiting for another MRI to see if the tumor is gone. We have been reading many clinical studies and we are believing for an absolute miracle.   

We support Heather continuing with her adventures at 4:12 Youth Ministries as much as possible; trying to ensure her life is as “normal” as possible.  Heather has been an inspiration to all around her.  Her faith, courage, and overcoming attitude has blessed many lives around her. 

Please join us on August 9, 2014 for the first annual DIPG - Ride for the Cure in honor of Heather Serafin. There will be a 15 mile bike ride for adults and a 1 mile ride for kids. All proceeds go towards research for DIPG through The Cure Starts Now Foundation.

To register for the bike ride, please click here.

The event will take place at:

Redar Park
1754 S. Park Ave
Schererville, IN 46375

If you would like to set up a fundraising page for the event, please click the "Create your own Page" button in the purple sidebar.