BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Families are rallying around a teenage girl in a brave fight against brain cancer.
It's the playoffs for the West Boynton Football League. Kids are running, passing and scoring touchdowns.
For Janine and Steve Saberson, it's a bittersweet moment. Their youngest child is in the midst of practice. But, at the same time, their middle child, Mia, who played on the very same field, is home battling brain cancer.
Mia, 13, was diagnosed nine months ago.
"My first question was, what this means for the quality of life, the quantity of life, what's the first thing we do as far as treatment, how do we explain this to her?" she said.
Janine Saberson said Mia is fighting a rare form of brain cancer.
"Which is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. It's a type of pediatric brain cancer that's in the brain stem," she said. "It's in the ponds, which control essential functions."
Before her diagnosis, she said, her daughter was so happy.
"Mia is a firecracker," she said. "She was always so full of life, just this vibrant, athletic, happy little girl."
Now, cancer has taken her hearing. Mia has facial paralysis, so it's difficult for her to eat and swallow and has left her immobile.
Her football family at the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center is holding a fundraiser Sunday.
"Seeing what she was going through, I realized it was an opportunity to give back and bring the community together," coach Dan Monaco said.
There will be adult flag football games along with a raffle.
"Really generous donations. My neighbor donated over $10,000 worth of custom jewelry, which we're really excited about," Monaco said. "We have everything from Amazon gift cards, Dick's gift cards, free flag seasons, free football seasons, vacuums, you name it."
Mia's father said the league has touched their hearts. He said it's been a tough nine months.
"Extremely difficult, just trying to balance kids that you're taking care of now and caring for your sick child," he said. "It's the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."
The fundraiser will be held at the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center. It kicks off at 10 a.m.
For more information about the fundraiser event, click here.
