Denham Springs 11-Year-Old Battles Rare Brain Tumor with Support from Community
An 11-year-old girl from Denham Springs, Katie Tanton, is battling a rare brain tumor known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Diagnosed in January, Katie has spent most of her time in the hospital undergoing treatment. Her symptoms began last year during a cross-country run, leading to persistent headaches and eye issues. After a CT scan and MRI, a mass was found on her brain stem, and she was diagnosed at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Katie underwent 30 rounds of radiation therapy, which helped improve her mobility and speech, although the treatment is not a cure for DIPG. Her family is now seeking approval for an experimental trial at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A fundraiser is planned to support her medical journey, with activities including a raffle, cake walk, and jambalaya dinner.