Fund Started for Mansfield 6-year-old Diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Cancer

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On July 17, 2014, Miacharia “Missy” Fischer got some of the worst news a parent could get; her daughter Demi, 6, had a suspected case of Neuroblastoma.

Days later the doctors’ hypothesis was confirmed and Demi was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that predominantly affects the nerves in children who are 5-years-old or younger.

“I tell her everyday how brave she is,” Fischer said. “She always says ‘no I’m not Mommy,’ but I say ‘yeah you are.”

Demi along with Fischer, who is a single mother, and her four sons who range in age from 16 to 9-years-old live together in Mansfield.

Demi spent the first four weeks after her diagnosis in the hospital. Now she goes to get tests done at least twice a week and has chemotherapy every two weeks. She is taking a break from chemotherapy because she has to prepare for surgery later in October to remove a tumor. Some treatment is done in Boston.

“Everyday is something different,” Fischer said. “I might get a call and be told we need to be in Boston tomorrow, but you do what you have to do for your family.”

Through it all Demi has kept her smile and keeps praying; she occasionally will rhetorically ask why she had to get cancer, Fischer said.

“She takes everything in stride, I look at her and I’m amazed,” she said. “At six, she is my strength.”

Fischer took medical leave from her job so she can be with her daughter and take care of her other four children full time.

Fischer said she is fortunate to have so many caring neighbors and friends that have cooked dinners, helped take care of the kids and pitched in any way they can.

Tolland High School senior Sarah Nuccio, 17, heard about the ordeal through another Tolland family and decided to help Demi’s family out by starting a donation page on Youcaring.com. Nuccio said it was a goal of hers to help someone in a tough situation.

“I met Demi and it was really touching,” she said. “My mom and I started a page after talking to Demi’s grandmother (Deborah Scott) to get the donations where they need to go.”

The donations will go toward helping the family financially so Fischer can be by her daughter’s side as she goes through the treatment.

Fischer said that she is very touched that Nuccio reached out to help.

“You don’t expect teenagers to think like that and help in that way,” she said. “She is very genuine,”

The hardest part for Demi is being away from her brothers and seeing her hair all out, Fischer said. She also wants to be with her friends but often can’t because of her low immunity.

Fischer said she was going to cut off her hair, but Demi told her not to because Nuccio would be cutting hers off.

Nuccio said she will be donating her hair to Wigs for Kids sometime in November or December as well.

The Fischer family is taking everything one step at a time.

“I have faith and I know everything will work out,” Fischer said. “Winning is the only option.”

Thanks to Patch reader Pam Rogers for letting us know about the fundraiser. If you have a news tip, send it to tips@patch.com or ACE@patch.com. Be sure to include the name of your Patch!