Jessica Magnus

On 18th September 2001, our only child, Jessica Lucia Magnus was born at Barnet Hospital.

When Jessica was just 3 years old, her doctor noticed a slight heart murmur whilst visiting her grandparents in the Czech Republic.

X-rays taken on her return to the UK revealed that although the murmur was innocent there was a large suspicious shadow visible behind her heart.

In December 2005 we were devastated to learn that Jessica was diagnosed with cancer called Ganglioneuroblastoma (consisting of both malignant and benign tumor that was taking up most of her chest and wrapped around her spine) stage III. Jessie was only 4 years old.

After diagnosis, Jessica received 2 rounds of chemotherapy followed by 9 hours of surgery that removed just 25% of the 15 cm tumor. A biopsy of the removed tumor showed more malignancy than first thought so further 4 rounds of chemotherapy was given, however it did not shrink the remainder of the tumor at all.

In the worst case scenario of Jessica's tumor growing, there are further treatments available in the UK such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and steroid injections.

We started a fundraising campaign in order to raise funds to get Jessica to US Memorial Sloan Kettering Centre in NY for a lifesaving treatment called immunotherapy or to Houston Burzynsky clinic offering anti-neoplaston therapy to get rid of any remaining cancer cells should her tumor start growing in the future, however we were ensured that Jessica’s type of tumor has excellent prognoses and that is very unlikely that it will progress in the future.

UNFORTUNATELY, not only her tumor grew since her diagnoses but also Jessica developed curvature of her spine called neuromuscular progressive scoliosis after the removal of the part of her tumor in March 2006. Her curvature progressed from 23 degrees in March 2006 to 65 degrees in October 2010. This is a very fast progression which eventually requires invasive and in Jessica’s case pioneering surgery.

This surgery involves removing her intra-spinal tumor inside her spinal canal which measures 15cm, inserting spinal growing rods and straightening her spine, all done in one surgery.

This is a very complicated surgery involving great risks to Jessica’s spinal cord along with other surgery complications and we were informed that nobody in the UK has done the combination of these two surgeries in one before.

We therefore started seeking second opinions from experts around the world in regards to the surgery and we tried our best to postpone this surgery for as long as possible in order to find the best person to deal with Jessica’s issues. We have bought a new Cheneau back brace for Jessica abroad and sent her on a private physiotherapy in order to halt Jessica’s scoliosis progression as sadly this is not available on the NHS and therefore the need for funds became greater than ever.

FEBRUARY 2011 UPDATE:
It came to our attention that Jessica’s tumor started growing due to the tumour reaching its benign maturity peak (ganglioneruoblastoma benign cells are bigger than immature malignant cell), the larger tumour however started pressing onto her already "significantly compressed" spinal cord and Jessica started limping, tripping over, losing her sensation in her right thigh and these are THE SYMPTOMS OF THE BEGINING OF PARALYSIS
DOCTORS HAVE TO ACT QUICKY TO PERFORM A VERY COMPLICATED SURGERY TO TAKE HER TUMOR OUT OF HER SPINAL CANAL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

JESSICA WILL NEED A PROPER PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT AFTER THE SURGERY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HER ABROAD FOR THIS AS THERE IS NOT A SPECIALISED NHS PHYSOTHERAPY INPATIENT CENTRE GOOD ENOUGH TO DO THIS. plus she will need a continuing back brace treatment, again done privately abroad.

WE ARE THEREFORE CONTINUING OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO FUND WHATEVER JESSICA NEEDS AFTER HER PIONEERING SURGERY IN THE NEAREST FUTURE

Many heartfelt thanks to our supporters and followers for all their financial help and support throughout Jessica’s illness.
Jessica and Stana xxx