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Fundraisers set for Joplin toddler fighting cancer

Fundraisers will be held Thursday in Havre and Shelby for a Joplin girl who is in Denver receiving treatment for neuroblastoma.

Scottie Marie Woods, 3, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that primarily affects children, on her second birthday in April of 2017.

Woods and her family, parents Scottie and Drue and sister Steele, are from a farm north of Joplin but have been staying in Denver while Woods receives treatment at Children's Hospital Colorado.

Woods loves "being outdoors, feeding all her animals and helping Grandpa milk the cow," her CaringBridge website says.

After Woods was diagnosed she went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and went into remission in August of 2017, the website says, but because of the nature of the illness she still had more treatments to go through.

In August of 2017, she started radiation and later had a bone marrow transplant and is now going through immunotherapy, her family's online journal says. But the treatments have taken time since she had frequent fevers and sicknesses due to her lowered immune system, as well as surgery to remove a mass in her abdomen in July of 2017.

Woods now has three treatments left, Scottie Woods said. Each treatment course lasts about a month, he added.

"She is doing really well," Woods said. "She has put some weight on ... she is feeling stronger."

She is a pretty positive girl, he said. She likes everyone at the hospital, Woods added.

It has been hard on the family; especially being away from their home, Woods said, but they are all trying to stay positive for each other.

The family is also appreciative of all the help and support they have gotten from the community, family, and friends, he said. Also, for the neighbors who have helped keep up the Woods' family farm while they are down in Denver.

The fundraisers, in both Shelby and Havre, will be held at Pizza Hut. People can mention Scottie Marie Wood's name when they order, all day, and 20 percent of the order amount will go to the Woods family.

Woods' aunt, Lori Woods, is also making T-shirts to support Woods' treatment. The shirts are available in sizes small-3X and are $20 each. They will be sold at a booth at Joplin Art in the Park June 16.

Woods' online journal, used to update family and friends about her treatment, can be viewed at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/scottiemariestrong/.

 

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