Baby Diagnosed With Inoperable Brain Cancer Is Now Cancer-Free

February 1, 2020

Baby Lily drew a crowd of caregivers as she rang the end-of-treatment bell after 5 months of chemo for a tumor on her brain stem.

Leann Borden said her daughter, Lily, was born Sept. 5, 2019 at 39 weeks gestation. The sonograms had been completely normal, but after she was born, a nurse noticed that Lily wasn't moving her limbs properly.

An MRI was ordered, and doctors found a spot on her brain stem.

Doctors told Borden that Lily had a high grade 4 brain tumor that could not be surgically removed.

Over the course of her nearly 5 months of life, Lily underwent a round of chemotherapy before several more rounds of targeted therapy, which rid of her tumor in just three weeks.

"There was no evidence of the brain tumor she was born with," said Dr. Caroline Hastings, a pediatric neuro oncologist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

Lily was declared cancer-free.

"To everyone who has been through this journey with us, this is our big moment with Lily!" Borden wrote on Facebook. "We thank everyone who has been with us this whole time. From all of the donations, text messages and prayers. We hope you enjoy this video! And now her name will be hung forever."

Baby Lily is tickled to be heading home after a successful 5-month #PrecisionMedicine treatment for a #BrainStem tumor. Giggles all the way home, Lily! #BeatCancer🎗#FridayMotivation pic.twitter.com/vUUHI9XAUu
— UCSFChildrensOakland (@UCSFBenioffOAK) February 1, 2020