A Father’s Glimpse, A Mother’s Instinct: Ta’tiyana’s Brave Journey with Retinoblastoma
When Ta’tiyana was just a baby, her father began to notice something unusual, a strange glow in her eye. It was visible only at certain angles and in certain lights. It was fleeting, easy to dismiss. Still, it lingered in the back of his mind. Months passed, and on Ta’tiyana’s first birthday in April 2024, her mother Mineka saw it too. Mineka says her daughter’s pupil reflected light like it was “glass”. They were concerned but did not know what they were seeing.
Within weeks, the glow became more frequent, no longer appearing only under specific lighting. It was becoming clearer, more persistent, and Mineka knew this was not normal. Trusting her instincts, she brought Ta’tiyana to her pediatrician. The visit, however, left them with more questions than answers. The doctor performed a basic eye check without shining a light in her eye or dilating. Seeing nothing immediately alarming, they were referred to a general eye doctor. However, this appointment was months away.
In the meantime, the glow intensified. It no longer looked like a harmless reflection; it appeared as though one could see straight through Ta’tiyana’s pupil! The wait was agonizing, and the concern only grew.
Finally, at the long-awaited eye doctor appointment, the family was told that Ta’tiyana likely had a cataract. A specialist referral was made. But before they could even attend that next appointment, everything changed.
Just one day later, Ta’tiyana’s eye became swollen, red, and began to ooze. It looked like a severe infection, perhaps a pink eye. Her parents rushed her to the ER. There, doctors ruled out a cataract and suspected trauma to the eye, urging an immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist.
During the eye exam with this ophthalmologist, Mineka could see the doctor’s expression shift. Something was very wrong. He told them they needed to get to a specialist in Memphis, immediately.
At the Memphis clinic, Ta’tiyana’s pupils were dilated, and she underwent a thorough evaluation. It was there the family first heard the diagnosis that would change their lives forever, Ta’tiyana had unilateral retinoblastoma (Rb). Rb is a rare and aggressive cancer of the eye. The tumor only affected Ta’tiyana’s right eye. Her left was completely healthy.
They were quickly referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, only an hour from their home. Here they met with Dr. Meaghan Granger and her team. Within days, St. Jude had them in for a full battery of tests: an MRI, an exam under anesthesia, and more.
The results confirmed what no parent wants to hear. Ta’tiyana’s cancer had taken her vision in the right eye completely. The pressure in the eye had likely been causing her significant pain, though she never showed it. The doctors gently explained that the best course of action was enucleation—surgical removal of the eye.
On December 16th, Ta’tiyana underwent surgery. It was successful, and her recovery was swift. But the family’s relief was short-lived. On New Year’s Day, they received devastating news, the cancer had extended beyond the eye and was moving toward her brain.
To save her life, Ta’tiyana needed six rounds of systemic chemotherapy, administered every three weeks. The months that followed were grueling. Chemotherapy took a toll. Ta’tiyana lost her appetite and became weak. Her platelet count dropped, and she needed a blood transfusion.
But through it all, Ta’tiyana fought.
Her body responded to treatment, and eventually, she completed all six rounds of chemo. She now wears a beautiful prosthetic eye and is adjusting well to it. Just last week, the family received what they had been praying for, her MRI showed no new tumors.
Ta’tiyana is now cleared to begin returning to a “normal” two-year-old life. Regular checkups every three months will continue to ensure the cancer does not return, but for now, the family is embracing each day with new gratitude.
She’s back to doing the things she loves, playing with her siblings and friends, giggling at Bluey and Cocomelon, and dancing to anything that has to do with her favorite characters, Minnie and Mickey Mouse.
Mineka and her family have endured every parent’s nightmare, but their strength, persistence, and deep love for their daughter helped them fight through. They want other families to know that what started as a subtle glow in the eye, a detail so easy to overlook, was actually the first sign of something serious. That glow, known as leukocoria, can be the only visible warning of a condition like retinoblastoma.
Thanks to early detection and access to world-class care at St. Jude, Ta’tiyana’s future is bright, and glowing with hope!
