Watch CBS News

Social Media, Strangers Help Find Treatment For Girl's Cancer

By Kathy Walsh

LAFAYETTE, Colo. (CBS4)- A young girl from Lafayette, who has been battling cancer for nine years, finally has hope of a cure. Zaida Mattson is getting experimental treatment that came about thanks to a social media connection and scientists in Boulder.

The folks who have been helping Zaida say "the stars aligned."

zaidas-cancer
Zaida Mattson (credit: CBS)

Her parents feared they had exhausted all cancer therapies for the 12-year-old until strangers with the right skills heard her story and got involved.

"It has been a continual struggle," said Eric Ellefson, Zaida's father.

zaidas-cancer-2
Zaida Mattson (credit: Mattson Family)

At age 3, Zaida was diagnosed with a rare cancer, peritoneal carcinomatosis resembling ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

Over the years, she's endured chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries including a hysterectomy. In 2015, the cancer spread to her chest.

zaidas-cancer-1
Zaida Mattson (credit: Mattson Family)

"We were starting to look at a hospice to take that next step," Ellefson told CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.

zaidas-cancer-1
Eric Ellefson and his daughter, Zaida Mattson (credit: CBS)

"Shots in the dark, that's all we had," said Zaida's mother, Nichol Mattson.

zaidas-cancer-3
CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh interviews Nichol Mattson (credit: CBS)

Nichol posted Zaida's story on Facebook. Jason Amsbaugh's wife showed him.

zaidas-cancer-2
CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh interviews Jason Amsbaugh, Director of Global Marketing at ArcherDX (credit: CBS)

"I thought there was a possibility that we might be able to help," said Amsbaugh, Director of Global Marketing at ArcherDX, a Boulder biotechnology company.

Scientists there analyzed Zaida's tumor.

zaidas-cancer-4
(credit: CBS)

"What they found was a rare mutation, a gene fusion, that could be a potential drug target," said Amsbaugh.

ArcherDX turned to Array BioPharma in Boulder. Array had developed a drug that would work on the mutation.

zaidas-cancer-5
(credit: CBS)

Julia Haas, Senior Research Investigator at Array, said the drug was in clinical trials, but none for children.

"The doctor wrote to the FDA and asked them for compassionate use and they granted it," said Haas.

zaidas-cancer-3
(credit: CBS)

Treatment started in October at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Zaida's scans show the tumors have nearly disappeared.

"It's a miracle drug," said Ellefson.

zaidas-cancer-4
(credit: CBS)

Zaida now takes the targeted treatment, called ipatasertib, at home. Her parents and local scientists, once strangers, share the hope that this is finally Zaida's cure.

LINKS: Fundraiser for Zaida
GoFundMe for Zaida

Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.