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In April, 7-year-old Vivienne was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – an inoperable brain tumor found in the area of the brain stem responsible for controlling bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eyesight and balance.
The Northvale community had rallied around Vivienne and her family, raising more than $130,000 through a GoFundMe campaign for her treatment, and holding numerous additional fundraisers.
A Voices for Vivienne Facebook page was also created, where Disney stars, athletes, news reporters, politicians, family and friends came together to wish her well and raise funds and awareness.
“John and Giulia are beyond grateful for the outpouring of support you have given them and especially Vivienne over the last eight months,” Thomas Panarese, who created the GoFundMe campaign, wrote about Vivienne’s parents in an update Tuesday. “The various fundraisers and money raised through the GoFundMe campaign gave the Northvale community hope that Vivienne could beat her DIPG while allowing her to stay in our lives a little longer.”
He wrote that her parents respectively ask for privacy during this very difficult time to allow the opportunity to process their loss and be with family.
“The Northvale community will miss Vivienne’s bright smile, amazing personality, and energy but we now have an incredible guardian watching over and protecting us,” Panarese wrote.
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