Norma was diagnosed with blastoma in February 2019. She had headaches, nausea, and vomiting that kept getting worse. She was sent to a neurologist, where testing revealed that she had a tumor in her head. Her treatment has included many surgeries on her head, radiation, and chemotherapy. She was in remission until 2021, but then her cancer returned in her head and her spine. She is still in active treatment. Norma loves mini golf, bowling, board games, Uno, Bingo, and Go Fish.

Neuroblastoma is by far the most common cancer in infants (younger than 1 year old). There are about 700 to 800 new cases of neuroblastoma each year in the United States. This number has remained about the same for many years.

Amanda (Andie) Cunningham is a certified child life specialist in the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber.