Lucy Roth is just like most other 2-year-old girls: she likes the color pink and Dora the Explorer, is full of spunk and giggles, loves her big brother, and thinks the world revolves around her parents.
But there is one difference between Lucy and most toddlers. A big difference.
Lucy has a malignant tumor growing in her brain.
Parents Heather and Damien Roth noticed that Lucy had been experiencing some minor vision loss. They took her
to an ophthalmologist who couldn?t determine the cause, so in August Lucy was sent for an MRI. The Roths?
lives were turned upside down when they were told that there was a baseball-sized malignant tumor pressing on
their toddler?s optic nerve.
On August 18, Lucy endured a 12-hour surgery at UIHC where surgeons were able to remove 90% of the tumor.
The 10% that?s left, while admittedly much smaller than it was, is still very scary. Heather, an editorial assistant at
the University of Iowa, says, ?Even though most of the tumor was removed, they found that blood vessels were
growing through the tumor so it couldn?t all be taken out.? So while the Roths are thankful for the care at UIHC
that they?ve received so far, ?we don?t really know what will happen in the months ahead,? says Damien, a
damage analyst at Vic?s Auto Body.
Lucy has a team of neurosurgeons and oncologists at UIHC and also at Children?s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
The two groups of physicians are working together to manage Lucy?s cancer because this kind of brain tumor ? a
fast-growing, malignant meningioma ? is extremely rare in a person so young. ?It?s the unknown that is so scary
for us,? Heather says. Damien agrees, ?I would love to see 6 months into the future to know where we?ll be then.
Taking it one day at a time is really all we can do right now.?
Lucy attends daily physical therapy sessions to regain the use of her right arm and leg, which was lost during her
surgery and begins chemotherapy on Thursday. Heather says, ?Lucy is active and feisty, and she gets so frustrated
that she can?t use her right side very well.? The physical therapists ?definitely get to see the ?terrible-twos
attitude? when Lucy is frustrated. But that?s good,? Heather explains, ?because we see that there?s so much fight
in our Lucy.?
For now, Lucy is happy to be home with her big brother Jake, a second-grader at Lucas Elementary, and she is
adjusting to the many appointments she has at the hospital each week. According to Lucy?s mom, ?She?s been
such a trooper. We are just in awe of our little girl.?
To learn more about Lucy and how you can help her and her family, email HelpLucyRoth@hotmail.com and then
join Lucy?s family at a silent auction fundraiser at The Vine in Coralville on Saturday, October 1, from 6-8 pm;
with Herky the Hawk at the event from 6-7pm.
Raffle tickets are available for purchase in advance for the big prize of 2 Iowa Football Outdoor Club Press Box
Game Tickets with a parking pass for the October 15 game when Iowa hosts Northwestern, simply email for
details. Silent auction items have been donated from dozens of local businesses and individuals and Herky?s
appearance fee was donated by Hawkeye Audio/Video of Coralville.
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