From birth, Juniper Beckinger was a very pleasant and easygoing baby. Her parents, Jocelyn and Damien, describe her as “always happy to be included.” The Beckingers love to take Junie and her big brother, Theo, to Sesame Place, watch Pittsburgh sports, and go to the park with their dog, Fletcher.
When she was about six months old, Junie became very cranky and had spells where she seemed to be constantly blinking. Jocelyn and Damien thought it might have been allergy symptoms, until later in December, when she developed erratic movements of her eyes. Her eyes would move independently of one another, and the symptoms progressed as time went on. Junie then stopped sleeping and would scream any time she was put in her crib. She could not lie flat and was unable to nurse.
Junie's symptoms continued to progress throughout December 2022. After an evening seeing a Christmas light show, Jocelyn noticed that Junie had a hard time with the brightness and flashing. This is when Jocelyn, who is a Physician Assistant, thought that Junie may have been having seizures. The next day, the day that Junie turned seven months old, Jocelyn took her to see the pediatrician about her suspected seizures. The pediatrician concluded that Junie was not having seizures, but they should drive to Penn State Health Children’s Hospital to get checked out.
Once they arrived at Hershey, the medical staff took Junie back quickly. Within 10 minutes of seeing a doctor, it was confirmed that Junie had opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome, which was caused by a neuroblastoma in her chest. Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome is most frequently paraneoplastic, meaning that it was a reaction to a tumor somewhere in the body. Junie’s condition was considered extremely rare for her age, it was usually seen in people over three, and Junie was the youngest person on record to have this diagnosis at the time.
The Beckinger Family will never forget when Junie had the follow up MRI during her first admission and they became connected with Four Diamonds. Junie’s oncologist, Dr. Shaw, told them that they were coming to the third floor and that they shouldn’t worry, because “Four Diamonds has this.”
It was “very fortunate” that Junie had opsoclonus myoclonus, as it was what led the doctors to discover her neuroblastoma. The tumor was the size of an egg and was touching her spine, aorta and diaphragm, but was not encasing them and did not share blood supply. Junie was discharged with plans to have a nuclear medical scan to confirm that the tumor could be surgically removed.
Junie had surgery on December 23, 2022, and spent her first Christmas in the hospital after having a respiratory failure the night of her surgery, early in the morning of Christmas Eve. Theo was only three years old at the time and knew that his sister was sick, but he didn’t know that it was Christmas, so Jocelyn and Damien told him that “Santa came the next day.”
Junie was discharged on December 28, 2022. At their oncology follow-up, they confirmed that Junie’s doctors had successfully removed 95% of the cancer, so Junie did not have to undergo chemotherapy. Her cancer was staged at Stage 2L, meaning that her cancer was Stage 2 by the time her doctors found it.
Junie is still in treatment for opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome a year and a half after her initial diagnosis, following a relapse in June 2024. So far, Junie has had four hospital admissions. She has had an additional procedure to get a Mediport that allows her to get infusions of IVIG. In February and March 2023, she had four rounds of Rituximab, which wiped out her immune system to help treat the effects caused by Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome. She has undergone six months of steroid therapy and has had 24 MRI scans to monitor the cancer. In January 2025, Junie will hit the two-year post-tumor resection mark and only have to have yearly checkups for cancer monitoring!
Because of the financial support that Four Diamonds provided, The Beckinger Family has not seen a single medical bill for Junie’s cancer and opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome.
“I still get my explanation of benefits from our insurance. I see what the total charges would otherwise be and realize how incredibly fortunate we are with Four Diamonds and THON,” Jocelyn said. “It’s just a very nice thing on days that are really stressful to just have one less stressor.”
The Beckinger Family was paired with the Penn State Cheerleading Team in 2024. The cheerleaders took Junie and Theo in and reach out to the Beckingers every week.
The Beckinger Family went to the THON Football game in September, and Junie made sure to give everyone high-fives. She thoroughly enjoyed her first experience in Beaver Stadium! They look forward to attending more THON events this year and interacting with volunteers now that Junie is no longer immunocompromised, and they all can’t wait to go to their first in-person THON in 2025!
“What THON Volunteers are doing has such a real impact. I know that it may be hard to see that while you’re doing it, but it truly has impact and meaning, and it’s so appreciated,” Jocelyn said.