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In 2012, then 11-year-old Jade Cain was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal cluster of veins and arteries in her brain. Treatment to cure the AVM was successful but it also caused radiation necrosis, the swelling and dying of brain tissue. As Jade's condition devolved into extreme headaches, weight gain, and potentially life threatening complications, Dr. Tom Yao, neurosurgeon at Norton Children's Hospital, performed a never-been-tried treatment on Jade, which involved injecting a cancer drug directly into her brain. The last-ditch treatment worked, Jade's condition reversed, and she's back to her normal life.
The results were so positive that Norton doctors have launched an international clinical trial to see if this treatment can become the standard approach for radiation necrosis around the world. Patients from as far away as the Middle East have come to Kentucky seeking treatment. If it wasn't for Jade, this treatment may not exist. More information about the trial https://nortonhealthcare.com/news/norton-healthcare-clinical-trial-fighting-side-effects-of-brain-irradiation
Since Jade's recovery, she's been a great advocate and supporter of children's health in Kentucky. On Nov. 2, Jade will be involved in the 5th-annual Dancin' Divas event at Walker Hall. Local dance troupes will be dancing to raise money to support Jade's cause. Over the past four years, the event has raised more than $37,000 to benefit pediatric neuroscience treatment in Kentucky.
Dancin' Divas fundraiser performance will be held on November 2, 2019 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at Walker Hall Events Center, 229 Madison Street in Paducah, KY.
