Rowan Baker, 3 holding hands with her mother and father at The Goddard School's Mini-March in Auburn.

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson

Children at The Goddard School march in support of their former classmate Rowan Baker.

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson

AUBURN, Mass. - A mini-march of preschoolers, parents and teachers was held at The Goddard School for Rowan Baker 3, who was diagnosed in April 2011 with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma that is inoperable.

The prognosis for this type of cancerous brain tumor is unknown. Approximately 50 percent of children diagnosed with this form of brain cancer do not survive beyond 10 months, dying of respiratory failure. Rowan has been through adult doses of radiation and concurrent chemotherapy since the time of her diagnosis. The school is raising money to assist with her care and treatments.

Rowan's parents, Rebecca Paniagua and Chuck Baker, of Monson set up a website to keep family and friends updated on Rowan's story and her condition at www.rowanbaker.weebly.com

When conventional chemotherapy did not work, Rowan's parents decided to pursue antineoplastons therapy.

Treatment involves a high sodium content solution which causes patients to feel very thirsty.

According to her parents, Rowan drinks liters of water and other liquids each day.

"She receives treatment at home," Paniagua said.

"This has caused a dilemma for us in that she wakes often, being potty trained prior to her treatment at the Burzynski Clinic to use her potty throughout the night. She will sometimes wake half a dozen times in a night to drink water, pee, have her pull-up changed, or make some other request. This means major sleep deprivation for Rowan and me both."

On January 17, the couple received news that according to an MRI at UMass Memorial, Rowan's tumor appears "stable".

"We feel like it's working," Paniagua said.

Although the radiology report shows the original tumor has not changed in dimensions, it did displayed new areas that are considered "suspicious".

Next week, Rowan will return to the hospital for PET scan to identify if these areas are cancerous or not.

On Wednesday, students and staff expressed their support for Rowan by marching through the hallways inside the school singing songs.

According to Toddler Teacher Misha Coolbaugh, Rowan was a former student at The Goddard School from January to September of 2010, prior to her diagnosis.

"We just love her," Coolbaugh said.

When the staff at The Goddard School found out about Rowan's condition they decided to organize an event to help offset treatment expenses.

For some of the younger students, a condition as complex as cancer can be difficult to explain.

"We tell them she's not feeling well," Coolbaugh said.

In addition to a bake sale booth managed by some of the older students, the school is also hosting an auction until Friday.

"Local businesses have been very generous," she said.

According to Coolbaugh, who organized the auction, tickets and gift cards have been donated by dozen's of local businesses including the Worcester Tornadoes, AMF Bowling, Shell gas station, Hanover Theatre, Auburn Town Pizza, Major League Roast Beef and Wings, Jasmine's Restaurant, Chili's and the 99 Restaurant.

Other donations include movie tickets, jewelry and spa items.

Anyone interested in donating or purchasing a ticket, is encouraged to stop by the school located at 494 Washington St. or call (508) 832-7400. Please make checks to Rowan Baker.

The drawing will held on Monday, February 13.

"We're hoping to raise $5,000," Coolbaugh said. "One hundred percent of the money raised will be donated to Rowan."