A Mother’s Fight for Answers: Lahlani’s Story

Four-year-old Lahlani Jacobs is convinced she is a princess, and who are we to disagree.

She loves pretty dresses, jewelry and shoes. She plays with dolls, attempts handstands against the walls and climbs on furniture whenever her mother isn’t quick enough to intervene. She also considers herself quite the comedian.

But behind Lahlani’s joyful personality is a serious medical condition that affects nearly every part of her young life. Shortly after Lahlani was born, Jennifer noticed her daughter would shiver frequently. Doctors said she was likely just cold. As Lahlani grew, her head often tilted to one side, her body continued to shake and she missed developmental milestones by several months.

The concerns became even more apparent when she began daycare. Her caregivers noticed the shaking was particularly severe after waking from a nap. At times, she shook so badly that she couldn’t keep food on a spoon long enough to bring it to her mouth.

Jennifer sought answers from doctors and specialists. She was repeatedly encouraged to wait until Lahlani was 15 months old to give her time to catch up developmentally. Physical therapy was expected to strengthen her muscles and resolve the problem. Instead, Lahlani’s symptoms grew worse. Testing determined that she was not having seizures, but Jennifer, convinced that something more was happening, requested an MRI.

A neurologist initially resisted the request because the test would require sedation. Jennifer continued advocating for her daughter until the MRI was ordered, although it was classified as non-urgent. “I felt like the problem was more than her muscles being weak,” Jennifer said. “Obviously, it wasn’t seizures, so something was wrong that we didn’t know about.”

The MRI revealed what Jennifer had fought so hard to uncover. Lahlani was diagnosed with brain and spinal cord tumors. Initially, she spent nearly two weeks in the hospital undergoing additional testing, including a spinal tap and a biopsy of her cerebellum.

Today, Lahlani takes oral chemotherapy every Friday. Her doctors expect her to remain on the medication for at least two years, and possibly longer, to help prevent the tumors from growing. The treatment has already reduced some of the tumors along her spine and stabilized others in her brain.

The medication is working—but unfortunately, like many treatments, it comes with a difficult list of side effects. Lahlani experiences stomach pain, headaches, constipation, nosebleeds, sensitivity to light, thinning hair, anemia and general body pain. Some days her legs hurt so badly that she asks Jennifer to carry her to the couch. Her balance remains poor, and ordinary childhood activities frequently end with a fall.

Jennifer constantly struggles with the line between protecting Lahlani and allowing her the simple joy of being a four year old child.

Friends sometimes remind Jennifer to let her be a kid. Jennifer wants that too—but she also knows how easily Lahlani can lose her balance and hurt herself. “She’s a normal kid,” Jennifer explained. “But it’s scary, she falls a lot.” Jennifer is also raising Lahlani largely on her own while trying to maintain a full-time job. For Jennifer, however, there is rarely a true break from caregiving.

When Lahlani awakens feeling ill or cannot go to daycare, Jennifer must choose between staying home with her daughter and meeting the attendance requirements of her job. She has used much of her available family leave while caring for Lahlani and has not yet worked enough hours to qualify again. Although her supervisors sympathize, the missed hours have placed her employment and finances under continued threat. 

Jennifer learned about Vickie’s Angel Foundation after calling 211 in search of resources. When she was given VAF’s information, she decided to reach out. “I hated asking for help,” she said. “I’m used to being the person who helps.” A social worker helped Jennifer complete the application, and Vickie’s Angel Foundation responded quickly. The Foundation assisted with rent, car payments and a utility bill, easing several of the family’s most immediate pressures.

VAF’s assistance gave her “peace and clarity” during a time when she felt alone and overwhelmed. The support offered something beyond paid bills, she felt reassurance that someone understood how a medical crisis can destabilize an entire family. “You feel like there is no one there who can understand,” she said. “They do.”

On Lahlani’s most difficult days, comfort often comes through cuddles—and princess-worthy clothing. “Put her in a nice, pretty dress, and she’s instantly happier,” Jennifer said. Jennifer finds moments of release where she can but the emotional weight remains enormous. “You can’t help your kid,” she said. “There’s nothing you can do except give her the medicine to give her the best life.”

Jennifer doesn’t pretend to know what the future holds. Her hope is both simple and profound: that the tumors do not grow, that the treatment continues working and that the side effects do not become more severe. She also hopes those who read their story will remember that Lahlani is not a kid that suffers but a funny, loving, pretty dress-wearing little girl who wants to bounce off the walls like any 4 year old. 

Despite everything, Jennifer tries to make family life feel as normal as possible and to ensure that her condition does not take away Lahlani’s childhood.

Jennifer wants other parents to take one critical lesson from their experience: Trust what you know about your child and continue seeking answers when something does not feel right. “If I didn’t fight for more answers, I would have never known,” she said. “We would still be struggling to figure out why she was experiencing all these things.”

That determination led to Lahlani’s diagnosis. Now, with continuing treatment, her mother’s devotion and the compassionate assistance from Vickie’s Angel Foundation, Princess Lahlani can keep doing what four-year-olds should be doing—playing, laughing, dressing up and filling the lives around her with joy.

Vickie’s Angel Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing a temporary financial bridge to help families battling cancer. We provide financial support for essential, non-medical needs such as rent, mortgage payment, utilities, transportation, and food. The foundation operates in an effort to remove the toxic stress of unpaid bills so the individual and their family can focus on their health. Through community-driven fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and generous individual donations, Vickie’s Angel Foundation ensures that 100% of donations directly support families in need. Guided by the values of love, faith, and hope, the foundation has touched thousands of lives by offering not only financial relief but also compassion and encouragement during some of life’s most difficult moments.

In order to give 100% to those in need, we are supported by Guardian Angels.

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