A successful first trip to the United States means the Rolleston resident will begin treatment for her Hepatoblastoma, a rare cancer of the liver, on November 11.
Nora has been accepted into a CAR T cell trial in Texas which is her last chance for a cure.
The family has been fundraising for the $210,000 needed for the treatment and have raised more than $180,000 so far.
The financial team in Texas has allowed them to use a payment plan so they could begin work on the CAR T cells.
The family recently returned from their first trip to the United States and Mrs Guise said it was a success.
“We had a blood test and then they will create the T cells from that. I recieved an email last week telling us they have begun the testing phase and a tentative treatment date could be made.”
On November 11, Nora will begin four days of lymphodepleting chemotherapy which lowers her white blood cell count, she said.
“On November 15, the cells will go in and they will boost those white blood cells back up.”
The family will spend about five weeks in Texas for the treatment including chemotherapy.
Mrs Guise said they are feeling incredibly hopeful and excited.
“While it does feel like we are just waiting, it is nice to be home and feeling normal again for a little bit.”
It was Nora’s first time in America and she had a lot of fun, she said.
“It was nice to get our bearings so when we do go back and we are there for a month, it’s not all brand new and also trying to navigate a city I know nothing about.”
A few days after the Guises got back, Nora started back at Clearview School.
“She loved it. She loves school and it is such a nice safe place for her. She can just be normal and not the sick kid anymore.”
