Ayva Dudley, 14.
The community has banded together in support of a Hatfield teenager battling bone cancer with fundraisers, dine and donates, and concerts.
Ayva Dudley, 14, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a Metastatic Bone Cancer, in June. According to her mom Lori, of Lori Dudley Wellness LLC, what they thought was a torn meniscus turned out to be a tumor the size of an apple on Ayva’s left tibia. As of July, it has spread to her right lung.
According to Lori on the GoFundMe page:
Back in February, Ayva was at the gym doing leg presses, and as expected, she was pretty sore the next day. I told her she was using muscles she was not used to using and gave her Tylenol for the pain. Over the next several weeks she was still in pain so I thought maybe she pulled a muscle. She took her to the pediatrician and examined Ayva’s leg and noticed how tender it was. She suggested an orthopedic doctor because she thought she might need an MRI.
We made an appointment at Upper Bucks Orthopedics at GVH and got an X-ray. The X-ray showed that she had some inflammation around her knee and the doctor thought based on Ayva’s symptoms that she could have a torn meniscus. No wonder she was in pain! Next, she was scheduled for an MRI to verify. It took a good 6 weeks to even get an appointment because they were so booked out. MRI was finally scheduled for 6 am last Wednesday and they said as soon as the doctor’s office opened I could call and get the results. The doctor beat me to it. He called me to let me know that the MRI showed a tumor the size of an apple on her tibia. He didn’t like that at all and so his office called CHOP to set up a visit with orthopedics and oncology. They explained that Ayva has osteosarcoma which is a rare bone cancer. Ayva has been in the hospital for the last few days for pain management. Even the IV morphine she’s getting is just making her pain tolerable. She will be getting her PET scan 6/12, chemo port and G-tube next week. She will then start 12 weeks of chemo. I’ll be able to give more information after getting the PET scan results. Ayva is only 14 and has her whole life ahead of her. We need lots of prayers and with all of the driving I will be doing back and forth to CHOP, the time there while getting chemo, it’s going to hit the bank account hard since I won’t be able to work.
The GoFundMe for Ayva has surpassed its $8,000 goal to $9,144, as of Tuesday.
Almost immediately, the local business community became a support squad.
On July 9, Vinny’s Pizzarama in Hatfield held a Dine & Donate for the Dudley family.
On Tuesday, July 16, Lansdale Tavern, whose co-owner Buddy Harris knows too well the battle with, and defeat of, cancer, shows support with its own Dine & Donate – 20% of all dine-in and take-out sales will benefit the Dudleys.
On Sunday, July 21, at Round Guys Brewing Co. in Lansdale, a rock and roll benefit kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at $10 a head. On the bill are Tangerine Doom, crust punk band Skives, and Convent.
Facebook/Dave Heck
Spring House Tavern, located in Lower Gwynedd Township, is hosting a Dine & Donate for Ayva on Tuesday, July 23, where 15% of sales will go directly to support the family.
Cannoneers and Knights 4 Life, through the efforts of Rick Palmerio, Laura Smith and Todd Harper, are partnering for a Hoagie Sale Fundraiser for Ayva on Saturday, July 27. Cost is $10 for an Italian or turkey hoagie, with orders due July 25. Pick-up is between noon and 3 p.m. July 27 at the club at 5th and Cannon avenues in Lansdale.
Follow on the family’s journey on Facebook via Ayva’s Osteosarcoma Journey.
Donate to Ayva’s GoFundMe here. The family has requested gift cards, such as Uber, Wawa, Giant, and places to eat or order food.
