Kait's Angels Raises $11,000 To Benefit Little Girl With Inoperable Brain Tumor: Photos

MATTITUCK, NY — The community opened their hearts in a big way Saturday to help Morgan West, an 8-year old girl from Cutchogue with an inoperable brain tumor — a yard sale organized by Kait's Angels to help raised more than $11,000.

The yard sale was held at the Doorhy home in Mattituck; Kait's Angels, a not-for-profit organization, was organized with a mission of doing good work in honor of Kaitlyn Doorhy, who died tragically at 20 while away at college.

In the years since Kait's death, among many other fundraisers, they family has hosted a yard sale to benefit a community member in need.

And this year, they joined hands and hearts for Morgan, a little girl whose bright smile has touched the community for years: Morgan's mom told Patch that even though her family has received devastating news about their little girl, they remain positive and focused on faith and Morgan's indomitable spirit.

"On September 6, Morgan had a biopsy in order to confirm whether or not her tumor was, in fact, a high grade DIPG," Morgan's mom Nikki West said. "There was a small chance, since she had defied the odds all these years, that it was low grade. Unfortunately, almost six years to the day of her original diagnosis, we were told that it was definitely a high-grade DIPG tumor, and for the second time in our lives we were told that our daughter was not going to survive."

After meeting with doctors, Morgan's family decided for the second time to proceed with radiation treatments.

The yard sale to benefit Morgan had already planned when her parents got the news; scores turned out to donate and help a little girl who has won countless hearts.

After the yard sale, Kait's Angels sent a message to the community, apologizing to anyone inconvenienced by the traffic on Ole Jule Lane on Friday, which was the drop-off period for the yard sale fundraiser to benefit Morgan West.

"We were astounded by the community support for our beneficiary and did not anticipate the abundance of traffic," the group said. "We would like to thank Southold Town Police for their assistance in providing traffic-directing support but would especially like to thank members of the community who attempted to donate but were turned away due to the very high volume. Please know your intentions were truly appreciated."

And, the group said, "Most important and what we need never lose sight of is the beauty of our community when one of us is in need."

Morgan, who is currently at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, has the love and support of the entire North Fork community, who check in on her progress with messages on the Helping Hands 4 Morgan Facebook page and website.

Morgan was diagnosed when she was only 2 years old with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG. It is a highly aggressive and inoperable tumor that has no cure and is ultimately terminal. The average life expectancy for those who have DIPG is about a year after diagnosis.

"On a routine visit for scans in August, we were given the devastating news that Morgan’s tumor was active and growing," her mother said. "We had not noticed any changes in Morgan that would have led us to believe that anything had changed. We were in complete shock and disbelief. She had been stable for so long."

But, she said, her family is unwavering in their belief that Morgan can once again beat the odds. "She knows that she has to stay strong and fight," she said. "She is our tough little warrior. If anyone can do this, she can. This kid can do absolutely anything when she sets her mind to it."

Patch courtesy photos.