At 7 years old, Hazel started experiencing back pain. Her mom, Andrea, assumed it was sore muscles from an active summer. But when Hazel’s pain became so severe that she couldn’t sleep, Andrea knew something was wrong.
After a series of tests ruled out everything from constipation to renal cell carcinoma, Hazel received a devastating diagnosis: an aggressive stage three Wilms tumor surrounding her kidney. By then, the tumor had grown so large that Hazel’s belly was painfully distended, making it difficult for her to move.
Desperate to get Hazel the care she needed, Andrea, Hazel, and Hazel’s baby brother relocated to Denver from Missoula, MT. Hazel began treatment, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor. While the surgery was successful, the family soon learned that the cancer was more aggressive than expected, requiring a longer and more complex course of treatment.
For Andrea, there was no question: her other two children, Hazel’s twin sister and younger sister, needed to be in Denver, too. She needed a place where all five of them could live safely and comfortably together.
Fortunately, that’s when they found Brent’s Place.
Brent’s Place gave Andrea and all four of her children something they desperately needed: a home where they could stay together. Their spacious, medically safe apartment gave Hazel the environment she needed to recover while giving her siblings a place to live, play, and be with their family during a difficult and uncertain time.
They also found a community of families and staff who understood what they were going through.
“Having a community of support makes such a difference, especially when you’re away from home,” Andrea shared.
The knitting group was a highlight of their stay, offering Hazel a way to stay busy, find joy, and create something she could share with her family.
“She was so excited to show her sister everything she made,” Andrea shared.
Today, Hazel is back home and doing well. She’s eating normally, playing outside, and enjoying the simple things that make childhood special.
For her family, Brent’s Place was more than a place to stay during treatment. It was a place that made it possible for a mom and her four children to be together when they needed each other most—a place of comfort, connection, and community during an incredibly difficult season.
We’re grateful to have been part of Hazel’s healing journey. And no matter what comes next, Hazel and her family will always have a home at Brent’s Place.
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