"Mommy I'm seeing two of you" That's how it started.

Our daughter Grace had begun to experience double vision and some occasional short, sharp headache pain. On July 2nd, 2007 we took her to a pediatric ophthalmologist who after examining her immediately referred us to a neurologist at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. The neurologist was concerned that Grace might have a tumor and recommended an MRI. We were taken completely by surprise by the news. One minute we were at the eye doctor thinking our daughter needed glasses and the next we were talking about a brain tumor. The next day we called to schedule the MRI but since it was a holiday on the 4th they couldn't schedule us until the 5th.  Having already made plans to take Nolan and Grace to Disney we decided to go, and scheduled the MRI for the following Monday. On Monday, July 9th we received the worst news of our lives. Gracie has cancer in her brainstem. 

Gracie is the Purdy's five year old daughter who was set to enter Kindergarten at St. Cecelia Elementary in the fall of 2007. She had Diffuse Pontine Glioma. What began as a child's complaint about sharp head ache pains and double vision had been diagnosed as DPG. This brain cancer grows out of the brain stem. There is no known cure or surgical remedy for this cancer. Gracie had begun radiation and chemotherapy treatments at All Children's Hospital on a daily basis. This treatment is done on an outpatient basis.

The growth of the tumor caused Gracie headaches and double vision.  Her left eye pointed towards her right at all times due to the pressure from the growth of the tumor. She was not in a great deal of pain at that time. Radiation was the only way to reduce the size of the tumor. She took Temodar as her chemotherapy.

The Purdy's requested that we reach everyone we know and ask them to include Gracie in their prayers.