Lufkin Mom Shares Daughter's Story to Raise Awareness About Rare Brain Tumor

Kinlee Karter Owens passed away at 10 years old after a 15-month battle with DIPG, a rare and inoperable brain cancer.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:48pm

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Nikki Owens, a mother from Lufkin, Texas, is sharing her daughter Kinlee's story in the hopes of raising awareness about Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), the rare and aggressive brain tumor that took Kinlee's life at just 10 years old. Kinlee was diagnosed with DIPG in December 2024 and passed away on March 10 after a courageous 15-month fight against the disease.

Why it matters

DIPG is an extremely rare and deadly form of pediatric brain cancer, with only 300 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. By sharing Kinlee's story, Nikki hopes to bring more attention to DIPG and the urgent need for better treatment options and research funding to combat this devastating disease.

The details

Kinlee was a vibrant and active 9-year-old when she was first diagnosed with DIPG in December 2024. DIPG tumors develop in the pons of the brain stem, making them inoperable. Over the course of 15 months, Nikki watched helplessly as Kinlee went from a healthy, energetic child to someone who could no longer walk or feed herself. Despite the grim prognosis, Kinlee remained courageous throughout her battle, even telling her mother that she wanted to be 'a kid that can run and play' and that she didn't want any other child to have to experience DIPG.

  • Kinlee was diagnosed with DIPG on December 18, 2024.
  • Kinlee passed away on March 10 at the age of 10.

The players

Nikki Owens

Kinlee's mother, who is sharing her daughter's story to raise awareness about DIPG.

Kinlee Karter Owens

A 10-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas who passed away after a 15-month battle with the rare and aggressive brain cancer DIPG.

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What they’re saying

“And everybody is just one diagnosis away from your life changing forever.”

— Nikki Owens, Kinlee's mother

“She said, 'no, I want to be a kid that can run and play'. She was like, 'but if I didn't have it, I don't want another kid to have it either'.”

— Nikki Owens, Kinlee's mother

“After she passed, her doctor told me, he said, 'I don't think if it hadn't been for you and your, just, drive to do for Kinlee, like, she wouldn't have made it as long as she did'.”

— Nikki Owens, Kinlee's mother

What’s next

Nikki Owens plans to continue sharing Kinlee's story to raise awareness about DIPG and advocate for more research funding to find better treatments and a cure for this devastating pediatric cancer.

The takeaway

Kinlee's courageous battle with DIPG and her mother's determination to honor her memory by spreading awareness about this rare disease serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for advancements in pediatric cancer research and treatment.