The parents of a Texas girl with a rare and inoperable brain tumor witnessed a miracle just in time for Christmas.
Incurable Tumor
In June, Roxli Doss was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a type of primary, high grade brain tumor that most often affects children.
DIPGs originate in the brainstem called pons, which is located in the base of the brain and is responsible for controlling a number of critical body functions such as blood pressure, sleeping, and breathing.
About 300 children between 5 and 9 years old are diagnosed with DIPG every year. The condition may cause vision loss, decreased ability to swallow, decreased ability to talk, and eventually difficulty breathing.
It isn't yet clear what causes DIPG and most other brain tumors. Prognosis for the condition also remains poor.
"It is very rare, but when we see it, it is a devastating disease," said Virginia Harrod, a doctor at the Dell Children's Medical Center's.
The doctor told the child's parents Gena Doss and Scott Doss that there is no cure for their child's tumor.
Gena and Scott, however, still decided to have Roxli undergo weeks of radiation while praying for a miracle to happen.
Their prayers were apparently answered.
Answered Prayers
Roxli's tumor has miraculously disappeared.
Harrod said that when she saw the girl's MRI scan, she thought it was unbelievable.
The tumor is undetectable on the MRI scan, which the doctor said, is really unusual. Other doctors can neither explain why the tumor is now gone.
"Everyday we still say it," Gena said. "It's kind of our family thing that God healed Roxli."
The couple acknowledged that they do not know how long their daughter would be healthy, but she is currently doing well and doing things that she love such as horseback riding.
The couple said that doctors double checked Roxli's scans to confirm the result. They are also watching their daughter closely. Roxli will continue to undergo treatments as a precaution.
