Our baby daughter, Tessa, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer called ATRT, when she was only 3 months old. Tessa had a 12 hour brain surgery that was able to remove over 90% of her tumor. Tessa was the happiest girl and smiled and laughed through 6 rounds of chemo and 3 stem cell transplants, as well as 6 courses of radiation. Her resilience, courage, love of life, and joyful nature touched so many people who she met and who followed her journey on social media. Unfortunately, Tessa’s cancer spread to a spot under her right arm ( right axilla) and this was very hard to treat. Ultimately, the cancer reached her lungs after exhausting every possible treatment. Tessa was given only a few months to live after fighting cancer for almost a year. Tessa peacefully passed away in her mother’s arms on the morning of November 21, 2020 at the age of only 15 and a half months old. Tessa was an Angel on earth whose story has affected so many people. Her light will never be dimmed and she will never be forgotten.
-Rob, Rachel & Rylee Hodgson