Bianka Kucelin will always be a shining light to all who have known her, beloved by family, friends and her whole community. She touched us all with her grace, joy, spunk, beauty and spirit.
Bianka was diagnosed at age 4 with a malignant brain cancer called supratentorial neuroectodermal brain tumor or sPNET mid February 2014. After battling the disease for 18 months, Bianka died peacefully at her home with her family on July 29, 2015.
Since Bianka passed away, her parents have strived to keep her memory and legacy alive. Bianka's tumor tissue was donated for research to two organizations and research teams: Dr. Anna Janss's team at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta who was Bianka's wonderful oncologist and Dr. Annie Huang's team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. We are especially excited that Dr. Huang received the viable cells and will be able to grow cell lines, only second PNET cell line in the whole research community. Hopefully Bianka's tumor will bring some research discoveries and new therapies for this very malignant, rare, and deadly tumor.
Bianka's parents also created a research fund through St. Baldrick's to study PNET tumors and to help find a cure for future generations of children. I appreciate your support of my efforts to raise money today for this fund!
