An 11-year-old girl’s inoperable brain tumor has disappeared without a trace – and doctors have no explanation for it.
Roxli Doss, from Hays County in Texas was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in June 2018. Yet, in the her latest MRI scan, doctors could find no sign of this tumor in her brain. Her parents have described the recovery as “a miracle from God”.
A miracle recovery
Roxli was taken to doctors after complaining of headaches and sickness for a couple of weeks – and was soon referred to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas.
After an MRI scan, it was widely agreed she was suffering from DIPG – an inoperable tumor on the back of her brain that pushed onto her spinal cord. This type of cancer is most commonly suffered by children aged between five and nine years old. It’s so aggressive that it often kills children within months of their diagnosis. Because of its position in the body, there is no known method of removing it.
Dr. Virginia Harrod, Co-Chief of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dell Children’s Medical Center, explained: “It is very rare, but when we see it, it is a devastating disease. You have decreased ability to swallow, sometimes vision loss, decreased ability to talk, eventually difficulty with breathing. The prognosis for this disease is dismal. This is considered a terminal diagnosis.”
Roxli was put through six weeks of intense radiation therapy, despite there being no known cure for the condition. It was hoped this would serve to stabilize or shrink the tumor. This therapy typically extends a patient’s life for around three months.
The Doss family held a benefit event to raise money for Roxli’s medical expenses – and were overwhelmed by the generosity of their local community. But at that point, they could only pray for a miracle.
Now, after Roxli’s recovery, that’s exactly what they’re calling it.
In a journal entry on caringbridge.org, the family said: “We all walked out in shock even though we had been begging, praying, asking and believing. Thank you Jesus just wasn’t enough to say.” Speaking to the local press outlet, Dr. Harrod confirmed that she had no explanation as to why the tumor vanished. “When I first saw Roxli’s MRI scan, it was actually unbelievable. The tumor is undetectable on the MRI scan, which is really unusual,” she said.
The coast isn’t clear yet
Doctors described Roxli’s recovery as “extraordinary” and has been covered by several international news outlets.
Medical experts not involved with her treatment have suggested that the youngster either reacted incredibly well to the radiation therapy, or was suffering from a less aggressive cancer than initially suggested. Either way, such recoveries are extremely rare. The story will surely provide hope for others with loved ones suffering from DIPG or other “incurable” conditions.
However, Roxli’s long-term diagnosis remains unchanged, as it’s possible for DIPG to return aggressively. As such, she will continue to receive precautionary treatments, such as immunotherapy. Nevertheless, at this moment, her parents spend every day thanking God for the good health of their daughter.
Since being given the all-clear in September, Roxli is now well enough to return to most beloved hobby of horseback riding. “We didn’t know how long she would be healthy and, look at her, she’s just doing awesome,” said father Scott. “She is just as active as she ever was.”
Donations and well wishes continue to flood into Roxli’s GoFundMe page. To learn more about her story and support the Doss family with their ongoing medical costs, visit https://www.gofundme.com/roxstar-medical.
Photos: ABC7 Chicago, WCSC
