By Jenny Rapson 
Having a child with a terminal illness is truly every parent’s nightmare, and a grief that too many know. Every time I hear of a child in our community with cancer, my mom-heart sinks to my toes. Even now, as I write these words, that’s as far as I can let my thoughts go. I can’t go there, and with three healthy kids, I have that luxury.
Eleven-year-old Roxli Doss’ parents, Scott and Gena Doss, do not have that luxury. They have to think about childhood cancer.
And yet, they do have boundless joy…miraculous joy, because although their lives have been touched by childhood cancer, they’ve also been touched by a true modern-day miracle.
You see, my friends, in June, Texas-tween Roxli was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable, cancerous brain tumor called DIPG. She had radiation to keep it at bay, but the prognosis was not good. DIPG is terminal.
“It is very rare, but when we see it, it is a devastating disease,” said Dr. Virginia Harrod with Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, who is part of Roxli’s medical team. “You have decreased ability to swallow, sometimes vision loss, decreased ability to talk, eventually difficulty with breathing.”
Dr. Harrod says Roxli had eleven weeks of radiation treatments to try and manage the tumor, even though there is no cure.
But then, something inexplicable happened. A recent MRI scan showed that instead of being controlled, managed, or shrunk, Roxli’s tumor just UP AND DISAPPEARED.
It’s GONE, you guys!!!!
MIRACLE!!!
Dr. Harrod and her colleagues have no medical explanation for the tumor’s disappearance. “When I first saw Roxli’s MRI scan, it was actually unbelievable,” Dr. Harrod explained. “The tumor is undetectable on the MRI scan, which is really unusual.”
Check out this video of Dr. Harrod discussing it. You can tell she is legit just flummoxed by this incredible turn of events!
You say unbelievable and unusual, Dr. Harrod, but I say miraculous!!
Roxli’s thrilled and overjoyed parents are calling it a miracle as well. They say they thank God every day that their child went from “no cure” to “no tumor” status.
“Every day we still say it,” Gena told their local news station. “It’s kind of our family thing that God healed Roxli.”
“We didn’t know how long she would be healthy, and look at her. She’s just doing awesome,” her dad added.
Scott Doss also said that five different children’s hospitals and cancer centers who examined Roxli’s case all agreed that her tumor was the inoperable, incurable, cancerous DIPG. The Doss’ also said that several doctors double-checked Roxli’s MRI scans to make sure the tumor is indeed gone.
AND IT IS!!
In this holiday season, it made my heart grow four sizes to hear of a true miracle this week. The Doss family will be celebrating a miraculous season in their lives during the most magical time of the year, and I’m giving all the thanks for it! Though Roxli is being closely watched and receiving immunotherapy just to be safe—she’s also doing what she loves (riding horses), surrounded by a family and community who adores her.
Please join me in giving thanks for this miracle and in praying for Roxli’s continued good health.
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