NJ Girl With A Year To Live Wants Books

One month ago, 4-year-old Evangeline Tietjen was playing dress up, painting, coloring and running around with her twin brother.

Now, doctors say, the normally spunky and energetic girl from Vineland has three months to a year to live.

Evangeline, known as Lena to her family, was diagnosed three weeks ago with Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma; an inoperable malignant tumor, according to a GoFundMe created for the family. Without treatment, she will live three months. With treatment, which is expected to begin soon, she will live for a year, the GoFundMe page says.

Lena's family became alarmed earlier this month when she was vomiting and lethargic. At first, her parents thought it was a stomach virus. But it didn't go away.

Then Lena began to have difficulty moving her arm and leg, and she was sent to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Doctors there found a mass on her brain. On Nov. 7, pathology results showed she had the inoperable form of brain cancer.

The family is in shock, the GoFundMe page says.

To support them as they embark on the "battle of their lives," the community is doing what they can to comfort Lena.

And that is coming in the form of books. Lots of them.

The effort, which has been dubbed "Lena's Library," aims to gather books for the girl to read as she undergoes treatment. Some books, depending on the volume received, will be donated to children in need, Action News reported.

"She loves books so much and loves to be read to," her mother, Erin Tietjen, told the news network. "We just want her to be happy and loved, and know that people care about her.

Anyone who wants to send Lena a new or gently used children's book should send it to: Lena's Library
C/O Dr. Juanita Davis, Thomas W. Wallace Junior Middle School, 688 North Mill Road, Vineland, NJ 08360.

The GoFundMe campaign, set up to help with unexpected medical costs and other needs associated with the diagnosis, has a goal of $50,000. Click here to learn more.

PHOTO: GoFundMe