Who We Are: Natalie's Story
The Natalie Tanner Foundation, a non-profit foundation, was founded and named because of a special little girl. Natalie Jeanette Tanner was born on February 22, 2007 and three months later to the surprise of everyone who loved her, was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma.
After undergoing two craniotomies at Loma Linda Children's University Hospital in California to remove the apricot size tumor, Natalie and her family left their home in Palm Desert California and relocated for six months to Memphis, Tennessee to undergo chemotherapy at the world renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
While Natalie's parents were full of HOPE at the prospect of their little girl surviving this cancer, they knew that Natalie's chances were not good considering that this particular cancer carried a five year survival rate of 30% as well as the fact that no child Natalie's age had ever survived this particular type of cancer.
After two major surgeries, five minor surgeries and three rounds of chemotherapy all before she turned seven months old, Natalie was sent home on hospice after an MRI and spinal tap on September 21, 2007 indicated metastasis. As the family left St. Jude to head back home, the HOPE that they had had for little Natalie left too.
Upon a follow-up visit to St. Jude for an MRI on November 2, 2007, it was discovered that the new tumor that appeared on Natalie's brain and spine in September was now shrinking in size, leaving the doctors scratching their heads.
To everyone's amazement and joy, Natalie came off of hospice care and returned to St. Jude with her mother to finish up the last three months of her chemotherapy protocol, while her father and loving three year old brother, Carson, stayed back in California. Natalie then returned home cancer-free the day after her first birthday on February 23, 2008. Natalie is now at home living her life, and instead of this foundation being named in memory of her, it is named in honor of her.
The HOPE for Natalie has returned, and through all of their challenges with Natalie, the Tanner family has come to realize that there is always HOPE for all the families out there who are fighting for their child's life. During those dark days spent on hospice care, the Tanners wanted something good to come from this experience, and that is when the plans for starting a foundation started to unfold and take shape. Not only is the Natalie Tanner Foundation up and running, but so is Natalie. Therefore, the Tanner family is passing the HOPE on to others. HOPE for today, tomorrow, and for the future of our children.