The day I found out I was expecting, I was in shock and felt completely unprepared for the road ahead of me.  I felt that again, a short five months after my daughter Dena was born, when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.  Both days, as is turns out, were monumental turning points in my life, and the life of our family. 

Dena had her surgery on November 2, 2004. The surgeons at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia resected 66% of the tumor. Further study of the tumor cells revealed Dena had a favorable type of neuroblastoma. That type, along with her age and the fact no other cancer sites were present, meant she was to be followed up every three months with CT Scans. We were blessed each time to hear her tumor was shrinking.  

After about a year, the tumor shrinkage stopped and maintained its size for the next several CT Scans. It was at that point that we were moved to six month CTs, then yearly.  Now, 6 ½ years later, Dena is a healthy, active seven year old that loves art, music, dancing and gymnastics. 

The only lasting effects from her tumor and surgery are weakness in her right hand from the nerve damage/remaining tumor and a permanent condition of Horner’s Syndrome.  The Horner’s Syndrome is primarily cosmetic in nature and, in fact, she thinks some of the effects of it are pretty cool (she has two slightly different colored eyes!). 

Dena and I know that we’ve been blessed beyond words to have had such a tremendous outcome.  However, we’ve seen our share of patients and friends travel down a treatment path quite different.  Just through our small journey we’ve learned so very much about ourselves, our place in this world, and about life in general.  

We’ve learned to look at every day as a gift given once and we are committed to celebrate it with joy.  We’ve learned that it takes very little from us to drastically change the life of someone else that is struggling and we welcome every opportunity to do so.   We’ve learned to be thankful for the things that we have and to show that gratitude, we give both our time and resources toward making a difference for others. We now know we need to help the fight for a cure.

Dena and I are blessed to have a tremendous vehicle in which to raise much needed funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.  Our family owns one of the Rita’s Water Ice stores. The partnership between Alex’s and Rita’s permits us to spread awareness about pediatric cancer and work tirelessly raising donations for this amazing charity.  Over the last several years, our store has been one of the top fundraisers in our company, raising over $60,000 and still going strong.  

I will never be able to repay the funds that fueled the research which allowed my daughter to fight, and conquer cancer.  We will continue to work in an effort to do so…it is the least we can do.

Our prayer is that one day soon no parent will hear their child has cancer and no child will have to fight the battle for survival.  Together we can make that happen.

Story provided by Lori Rovito, Dena’s Mother

Update, June 2018:
Dena will be entering her freshman year of high school this fall. She's an accomplished volleyball player too and has participated in club level competition for the past three years. Along with her athletic skills, Dena loves to sing and act! She was recently accepted as a provisional student in the Academy of Fine Arts to study theatre this next school year. When she's not busy on the court or on stage, she loves to travel, spend time with her friends and volunteer around the town. 

Update, November 2020:
Dena is a high school junior this year, and has recently been extended an offer to enter the National Honor Society from her school. Besides her dedication to her schoolwork, she is an accomplished volleyball player, having participated in club level competition for the past five years. Along with her academic and athletic skills, Dena loves to sing! She has recently taken on the role as a Worship Leader singer in her high-school church groups Worship band. When she's not busy on the court or on stage, she loves to travel, spend time with her friends and volunteer around the town. College is on the horizon for Dena where she is considering a career in music or biology.