I am Baby JoeyI am Baby Joey

I am two I am two andand a half a half years old.years old.

I was diagnosed with a brain I was diagnosed with a brain tumor tumor

when I was just five months old.when I was just five months old.

This is my baby sister Stella. We watch This is my baby sister Stella. We watch over each other.over each other.

This is after my first surgery. This is after my first surgery. Unfortunately, they were not able Unfortunately, they were not able

to remove all of my tumor.to remove all of my tumor.

The surgeon accidently cut a major The surgeon accidently cut a major sinus leading to my juggler vein.sinus leading to my juggler vein.

I lost a tremendous amount of blood and was not

expected to live.

The first The first snowsnow

The nurse brought me snow to make a snowman!The nurse brought me snow to make a snowman!

I gain strength from holding I gain strength from holding Stella’s handStella’s hand..

This is me and my DaddyThis is me and my Daddy

Mommy and I went Mommy and I went exploring.exploring.

Because of the surgery, I now Because of the surgery, I now have a leak of spinal fluid and have a leak of spinal fluid and developed fungal meningitis.developed fungal meningitis.

I love my

baby

sister

Stella.

She

inspires

me to be

strong

every day!

This is me two months later…This is me two months later…

…after four surgeries.

Stella Brightens my day!Stella Brightens my day!

She gives me courage to fight.

I am successfully battling the I am successfully battling the meningitis.meningitis.

They have inserted a shunt into my brain to help control They have inserted a shunt into my brain to help control the spinal fluid.the spinal fluid.

Stella helps me pass the Stella helps me pass the time.time.

My anti-fungal medication is My anti-fungal medication is equivalent to chemotherapy.equivalent to chemotherapy.

This is me on my way home This is me on my way home after my last surgery.after my last surgery.

This is at my Grandma’s store. This is at my Grandma’s store. I was still on a feeding tube when I I was still on a feeding tube when I

came home.came home.

I was so excited to meet President Abraham I was so excited to meet President Abraham Lincoln!Lincoln!

I know all the Presidents.I know all the Presidents.

It has been a long road and as you can imagine It has been a long road and as you can imagine my medical expenses are astronomical…my medical expenses are astronomical…