LAYTON — The family of a 7-year-old girl diagnosed with terminal brain cancer said they are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from community members who are helping to pay for medical bills during this stressful time.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” said Kristopher “Topher” Tyler, whose daughter Jane was given the diagnosis earlier this month. “Seeing how many people want to help and have put the word out on social media and have donated is just heartwarming. We want everyone to be aware of Jane, and if they can help that’s wonderful.”

Tyler said his wife, Kate, was painting Jane’s toenails July 3 when she noticed something unusual. Jane was showing signs of a neurological problem.

Kate, a third-year medical student at the University of Utah, realized right away her daughter had a positive Babinski reflex, which happens when the big toe bends up and back while the other toes fan out, instead of curling under. A positive Babinski reflex is normal in children under the age of 2, but abnormal in older people.

“We took Jane to the hospital in Layton and they performed a CT scan and some other tests and they all came back fine,” Tyler said. “They thought it was really weird. They even brought in an ophthalmology team because Jane had told us she was having some double vision.”

The family was sent home with instructions to return immediately if anything else happened. On July 4, while getting ready to do fireworks as a family, Jane started slurring her words and was walking off-balance.

They got in the car and drove straight to Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, where Jane was admitted and an MRI confirmed a brain tumor, called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, which is rare but fast growing.

Jane was given nine to 18 months to live.

“She’s going to start radiation treatment this week at the Huntsman Cancer Center,” Kristopher Tyler said. “This should give her reduced symptoms for a time but it will eventually come back. Right now, she doesn’t know the eventual outcome. She knows she has a brain tumor and she knows we are getting her help to feel better. She’s just taking it all in stride.”

Jane was born Dec. 4, 2014. Her father said she is energetic, smart, creative, bright, independent, stubborn and brave.

“She loves coloring, rainbows, unicorns, the color pink, dolls,” he said. “She loves doing art and she does very well in school. She loves riding her bike and was off her training wheels within an hour of learning how to ride. She’s always the funniest one wherever we go. She makes everybody laugh.”

Tyler said since her diagnosis, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions for the family. Many tears have been shed, plans have been put on hold, and grief counseling is being scheduled to deal with the eventual loss in the coming months.

“We’re doing OK — as well as can be expected,” Tyler said. “We are trying to make the best of things right now, although now we’ve got COVID on top of everything else.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family for those who would like to help pay for the mounting medical bills accruing for Jane’s care.

“We are so appreciative to everyone,” Tyler said. “The support we’ve received from family and people we don’t even know has been absolutely amazing. We just want to say thank you to everyone.”

Donations can also be made directly to the family through Venmo @Kristopher-Tyler or PayPal @artopher.

Newsletter