Daughter of Fort Bragg soldier battling brain tumor

Fort Bragg, N.C. — A Fort Bragg soldier and his family have been battling to save their 9-year-old daughter from a malignant brain tumor.

The Kapuli family has spent the last seven months living at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham while Iolani Kapule underwent treatment.

“I missed them greatly,” Iolani Kapule said.

1st Lt. Doug Kapule learned about his child's disease while he was deployed on a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq earlier this year.

”The focus now went from being in Iraq to taking care of one person, taking care of my daughter. It's going to be tough,” Doug Kapule said.

Doug Kapule and his wife have spent the last seven months caring for their daughter around the clock.

“She was a 9-year-old girl, and her walking ability was taken away by this brain tumor,” Amanda Kapule said.

A fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House in Durham gave the Kapule family a chance to share their story and their gratitude.

“God has given us the strength to go on everyday,” mother Amanda Kapule said.

“We all love the Lord in our family, period. We pray," Doug Kapule said. "Our unit, of course has been real helpful."

The Kapule family said that the help they have received has renewed their sense of faith in humanity and given them a sense of hope for their daughter's future.

Iolani was scheduled to go for her final treatments at the end of this month. The family says if all goes well, she will be allowed to go home after Christmas.