SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — What began as a routine doctor’s visit for a swollen eye has become a family’s fight against cancer, as 3-year-old Cora Tacke battles a malignant tumor near her right eye.
The Tacke family received the devastating diagnosis on May 1 after Cora’s mother noticed something unusual during their nightly reading routine.
“I had noticed that her right eye was rolled up a little bit and the other one was looking straight at the book,” Autumn Tacke said.
Autumn immediately scheduled an appointment with Cora’s pediatrician, and events moved rapidly from there. That same day, doctors discovered the dangerous tumor next to Cora’s right eye.
The diagnosis has dramatically altered life for the Tacke household, where twin sisters Cora and Clover have been inseparable since birth. The family now faces the challenge of maintaining normalcy while navigating an intensive treatment schedule.
“They have never been apart for more than a couple of hours. They go everywhere together, they do everything together, they are best friends,” said Brayden Tacke, the twins’ father.
The treatment plan spans 29 weeks and includes chemotherapy followed by several weeks of radiation in Seattle. The medical requirements have forced difficult separations between the twins, with hospital visits lasting eight to nine hours.
The chemotherapy treatments have also restricted Cora’s activities and social interactions due to her compromised immune system.
“With her starting chemotherapy, she can’t have her friends come over. We can’t always go to the park. We can’t always go out to the park and ride our scooters and bikes,” Autumn Tacke said.
For Brayden Tacke, the emotional toll centers on his inability to shield his daughter from the medical ordeal ahead.
“You feel hopeless, scared, but you can’t really show it because what they are going through is 100 times worse,” he said.
The family received encouraging news this week when doctors confirmed Cora’s cancer is stage one, meaning it has not spread throughout her body.
Community response has provided crucial support during the family’s medical journey. A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $37,000 in three weeks. Autumn’s coworkers organized a silent auction, and friends have begun selling merchandise to support the family.
“It is overwhelming in the best way possible because people are so generous and so sweet,” Autumn Tacke said.
Despite the challenges of separation during treatment, Brayden Tacke has observed an unexpected positive development in his daughters’ relationship.
“When they are together they barely ever fight anymore, they are just happy to be together,” he said.
The Tacke family emphasizes the importance of proactive healthcare for parents.
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