Prayers, community support bolster Norwin girl in her health battles

When Mia Gill of North Huntingdon underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in mid-August, there was hope that it would end months of debilitating health problems. But she was left with migraines, tremors, dizziness, and photosensitivity problems that baffled doctors in search of a cure.

Meanwhile, Gill, Kevin and Trina Gill’s 18-year-old daughter, has received a lot of support from family, friends, their church, and the community. Mia, a 2021 Norwin graduate, had to postpone attending Grove City College and playing lacrosse until the next school year.

“The people were wonderful,” said Trina Gill. “Without everyone’s prayer, we wouldn’t have made it.”

Mia’s Miracle Facebook blog was created by Angela Mazur, English teacher at Norwin High School and sister-in-law of Trina, with the aim of gathering as many prayer warriors as possible.

“We wouldn’t function today if everyone hadn’t had prayers and acts of selflessness,” said Trina Gill.

Monsignor Paul V Paul Fitzmaurice and the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Agnes in North Huntingdon held a common vigil and presided over rosaries and other group prayers on Mia’s behalf.

Rev. John Moineau, a priest in the Immaculate Conception parish in Irwin, is battling his own cancer diagnosis. He dedicated his chemotherapy sessions and morning masses to Mia, Gill said.

Friends and strangers have cooked meals so parents can spend more time with Mia, her four siblings – Lauren, 20; Kyle, 17; Evan, 15; and Claire, 12. Some have even volunteered to stay in the hospital with Mia so their parents can rest at home, Gill said.

The Norwin Lacrosse Club, of which Trina was president and Mia played, provided gift certificates to local restaurants.

A local family friend took in their youngest child to make sure she had a stable, low-stress first week of school, Gill said. Mia’s three best friends have spent countless hours in prayer with Mia and gathered their universities to pray.

Another friend created “Mia’s Miracle” bracelets that will soon be distributed to local businesses and schools, Gill said.

The family will also benefit from the Norwin High School girls’ volleyball team’s Pink Out fundraiser game against Hempfield Area scheduled for Thursday at Norwin High School. The junior university game starts at 6:00 p.m. Varsity games at 7:00 p.m.

Mia said she has also received tremendous support from the Grove City women’s lacrosse coach and her future teammates. They held vigils and the college staff and other sports teams sent out cards.

Her Lincoln Hills community designed courtyard signs with the help of Mia’s former high school lacrosse trainer Mandy Pane, Gill said. The signs calling for prayer can be seen everywhere in Mia’s neighborhood and beyond.

“Everyone’s support has really helped me stay positive and loyal,” said Mia, who will donate the proceeds from the bracelets and signs to her local youth welfare group and the Hitting For Hope nonprofit founded by one of her best became friends, Ryan Scavnicky.

Signs of health problems

In retrospect, the Gills now recognize the telltale signs that something was wrong with Mia in the spring.

During her senior lacrosse season, Mia was unbalanced, injured, and fell onto the field. She said her vision was blurred, she had a lot of headaches and could not sleep. Symptoms were rationalized as a result of online schooling, looking at her computer screen, clumsiness and stress in the senior year.

A few days after graduating on May 28, Mia’s behavior began to change dramatically. She had worked in the State Farm insurance office in Irwin and was taking summer online courses at Grove City College when she passed out and could not concentrate on her duties.

“I was a straight-A, honors student. I knew something was really wrong, ”said Mia.

A number of medical tests and exams have failed to discover the source of their health problems. Doctors were baffled.

“Everyone pointed to my insomnia as the cause,” said Mia. “I couldn’t sleep for months.”

At Mia’s urging, the doctors finally ordered a CT scan in early August. It showed a large tumor – a rare choroid plexus papilloma – that filled a section of the back of the brain.

The National Institutes of Health say ventricles in this area of ​​the brain produce fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Less than 200 people annually are diagnosed with this tumor, with the majority being young children, Gill said. Due to the calcification of the cells, the rare tumor has been growing for several years, said Mia.

“Mia’s case is very unique,” said Gill, who did extensive research into the disease to see doctors, hospitals and specialists across the country.

Doctors hoped that due to her health and youth, Mia would recover quickly from her operation on August 18. Instead, when she returned home, she began to turn down further. She suffered from neurological symptoms that brought her back to the hospital. She continues to struggle with daily headaches and migraines, dizziness, tremors, heart rate disturbances, confusion, insomnia, tingling in the limbs, sensitivity to light, and eye movements.

Even the simple task of writing a letter or checking your cell phone is almost impossible.

“The hypothesis is that removing the tumor triggered something in the brain,” said Gill.

To get some exercise, Gill says they try walking around Indian Lake Park in North Huntingdon, but that’s often a struggle, especially when it’s sunny, which bothers Mia’s eyes.

Mia and her parents were at the Cleveland Clinic last week to schedule an appointment with an autoimmune neurologist. Mia was admitted to the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital as a patient, where she will be examined by the chief neurologist in November. She is also waiting for appointments at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Gill said.

Mia is expected to undergo further tests for possible autoimmune neurological problems, but they will have to wait until treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin – antibodies made from donated blood – no longer affect their systems, her mother said.

Strong belief in God

Throughout the struggles, Mia remains steadfast in her belief. She can study theology or biology in Grove City.

“I have seen and felt the miracles that came from the power of prayer,” said Mia.

Her favorite Bible verse is part of 2 Corinthians 12: 9. “My grace is sufficient for you, for in weakness power becomes perfect,” recited Mia, saying that she glorifies God in your weakness.

“Even when you are suffering, there is something to be happy about,” she said.

Those who would like to follow Mia’s prayer warriors and follow their recovery can visit the Facebook blog @MiasMiracleNetwork.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/10/03/prayers-community-support-bolster-norwin-girl-in-her-health-battles/