Louisiana Family Sleeping in Tents as Daughter Fights Brain Cancer

DENHAM SPRINGS, La. - One Louisiana family is making heartbreaking sacrifices in hopes of giving their daughter every possible chance to beat a rare and aggressive brain tumor.

After leaving their home in Denham Springs and relocating to Ohio for specialized medical care, the family says they've been sleeping in tents at campgrounds to save money while their 11-year-old daughter continues receiving treatment.

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Louisiana Family Forced To Make Unimaginable Sacrifices

Katie Tanton, an 11-year-old from Denham Springs, is battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and highly aggressive form of brain cancer that primarily affects children.

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Katie has been participating in a clinical trial at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where doctors are working to slow the disease's progression.

Her parents tell WBRZ the treatment has shown some encouraging signs, with recent scans indicating the tumor has shrunk. However, the shrinking tumor has also led to swelling and tissue damage in her brain, creating new complications and making many of her symptoms even more difficult to manage.

From WBRZ.com -

Her parents, Breann and Austin, say it has not been easy, with the tumor shrinking causing a lot of swelling in her brain.

'And cysts to form right on her cerebellum. Causing a lot of the symptoms that she deals with daily anyway to be a lot worse,' Breann said.

Why The Family Is Sleeping Outside

Katie's parents say relocating for treatment has drained their finances.

After moving to Ohio so Katie could qualify for medical coverage that better supports her treatment, the family has been trying to conserve as much money as possible while searching for permanent housing.

Instead of paying for hotels or temporary rentals, they've spent the past week camping in tents at local campgrounds.

Katie's Mom Breann Tanton tells WBRZ -

Kind of changed how we were doing things because funds were getting low and we kind of wanted to hang on to the last bit that we had for when we finally found a rental home, so we decided to start camping.

Katie's mother says it's far from easy, especially during the summer heat, but every dollar they save can go toward their daughter's care and hopefully getting a rental house soon.

The good news is that once people learned of the Tanton's situation, Louisiana is stepping up to help.

Community Steps Up To Help Katie

As word of the Tanton's family's situation has spread, friends, relatives and multiple organizations have begun rallying around them.

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Katie's aunt will be launching a fundraiser with the goal of raising $50,000, pledging to shave her head if the goal is reached.

Something tells us this goal will definitely be reached. We'll keep you posted as soon as it goes live.

The family has also heard from Cajun Navy 2016, which has offered to cover several months of rent once the Tantons are able to secure a rental home in Ohio.

Despite daily headaches, fatigue and other challenges caused by both the cancer and its treatment, Katie continues to find joy in the little things.

Her family says she enjoys exploring campgrounds with her sisters, searching for fossils and spending as much quality time together as possible.