NH Family Starts Petition To Allow Controversial Brain Tumor Drug

HUDSON, N.H. (CBS) --- McKenzie Lowe wants to be a veterinarian someday, and she plans to accomplish that goal.

"I'm feeling pretty good," said Lowe. "Nothing's been really bothering me about any of this."

At just 12 years old, she already faces big challenges. You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but she's been diagnosed with DIPG, an inoperable brain tumor.

"It's the only word I didn't want to hear is 'inoperable'," said her grandfather Frank LaFountain. "But she's doing good, she's handling it, so are we, for the most part."

LaFountain has started a petition to sway the federal government to allow McKenzie to take a controversial drug that has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"She has gone through radiation and chemo," said LaFountain. "But the tumor has grown back."

Family and friends hope to collect 100,000 signatures. So far they have just under 4000.

Related: Petition To FDA

They believe the drug therapy, spearheaded by a doctor in Texas, could be her best chance at survival.

"If this were your child, and this was a chance that she could have compared to no chance, how could you not do it," said family friend Kim Frenette.