Liliana Bishop

My name is Vanessa, and I am writing this as a “short” version of my 3 ½ year old daughter, Liliana’s story…I hope some of the details on how things happened can help others find answers if they are also on a similar path.  

May was a hard month; Liliana’s great-grandma passed after a few months of being in and out of the hospital and then the weekend of Memorial Day our lives changed. I took Liliana in for what I thought was a possible UTI and instead wound up taking her to the ER because the doctors were baffled. They said no signs of infection but a high white blood cell count and what started as “burning” overnight became she couldn’t go at all. While in the ER they did ultrasounds and discovered my 3.5 year old who was just carefree giggling and playing on her trampoline yesterday, had a mass compressing her bladder and pushing her bowels over. It was a type of mass the ultrasound couldn’t identify. We were admitted to the oncology unit. Within the next week they conducted MRIs, CTs, x rays, biopsies, bone marrow, and an MIBG scan. Liliana’s results were inconsistent-her labs showed cancer indicators but her biopsies showed ganglioneuroma. Her MIBG scan did not “light up.” They decided they had to remove the mass for more information and in the middle of June, Liliana underwent major abdominal surgery to remove the primary mass. The surgery went well but the two portions toward her spine were left in for neurosurgery and her oncology team to troubleshoot. After her surgery Liliana experienced complications. She became septic 8 days post-op and developed a kidney infection and blood clots. After 53 days in the hospital we got to go home. The analysis of her mass determined Liliana has ganglioneuroblastoma. Her mass is an intermixed tumor of both benign and cancerous cells, the subtype of which was given two different pathology opinions. Liliana had a few “minor” surgeries during her time at the hospital to deal with her complications and it is unclear if her bladder will ever fully recover, BUT she is full of life and laughter and has a determined spirit that this mom is in awe of everyday. The remaining portions of her mass near her spine are being evaluated for further treatment.  

Now just who is Liliana? Liliana is far more than her cancer story- Liliana is a 3.5 year old Paw Patrol loving toddler full of energy, sass, and a wit that admittedly had every surgeon, nurse and doctor commenting on it. Liliana is the toddler who convinced a room full of surgeons to let her eat 3 Cheetos while on a clear liquid diet (because she’s 3) and had an attending oncologist color with her in her Hello Kitty coloring book. She’s the girl who asks everyone’s favorite color and plays red-light/green light in the hospital hallways. Liliana is the embodiment of a sour patch kid at times but she’s also a car and plane- loving cancer warrior. Liliana is independent and silly; she points out every airplane flying over DTW and every star at night. Liliana is a “snack queen” and an adventure seeker- she loves her toys, jumping on the trampoline, singing and dancing to her favorite songs and she has inspired me every single day with her strength. Liliana is a bright shining light and a spitfire. Liliana is my whole heart. Liliana is Super Lily. 

~ Vanessa Bishop, mother and hero, Kalitta Air