Abigail is very outgoing and doesn’t let anything stop her.
She was first diagnosed at 11 months old. She did 16 months of chemo and then the tumor came back. She then had 6 weeks of radiation. Blaine was cancer-free for 3 years and she relapsed again last February. Her 3rd tumor resection caused a lot of side effects and she was hospitalized for 73 days. She almost lost her fight a few times during that stay.
Abigail has been through all available treatments for her cancer. We worry about how much more time we have with her. She doesn’t seem as affected as everyone else with all she has gone through. She is just a girl on a mission to love life.
Younis is the sweetest boy. He’s very empathetic and caring. He loves animals, dinosaurs, and being around his family. He has a sense of humor and brings joy to all those around him. He is the light of our lives.
When he was two years old, Younis had gone to the emergency room 3 times and all the doctors dismissed his symptoms to the flu. When we were finally admitted, the doctors decided that he looked better and weren’t going to admit him. He hadn’t eaten in 2 weeks and had just stopped walking. When I pressed for an MRI they refused. I threatened to get a lawyer. They did the MRI and found a tumor the size of a tennis ball. He had his surgery 3 days later and underwent a GTR of the tumor along with 33 rounds of radiation therapy.
Our lives will never be the same after his diagnosis. Every time he is off, our minds go to the dark place. I think every family with a sick loved one feels the same.
Over a year ago our son, Alden an 18-year-old recent honor grad of ac Flora, a USC freshman became very sick and was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Alden suffered a traumatic brain injury the morning following the surgery due to a hemorrhage & strokes on the brainstem. After many complications and sicknesses following the tumor removal, Alden continued to fight through a coma, seizures, infections, numerous brain surgeries, and life-threatening illnesses. He was in the PICU for 4 months.
In January, Alden went to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehab where he faced more illnesses, challenges, and surgeries. He was released home in April and began in-home therapy.
After being home he battled several illnesses causing seizures but continued to battle and participate in therapy and gain strength. After seeing his rehab doctor, he was released to outpatient therapy. He is currently undergoing speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Alden is doing good. He is in recovery and will have to relearn everything. At this time he does not talk but he communicates by spelling, simple sign language, and head nods. He is on the list to try a communication device by Tobii Dynavox. He has a feeding tube but a strong desire to swallow again to eat regular food.
Alden’s tumor was an ependymoma grade II. Normally after the tumor removal radiation therapy would be standard treatment. He has an MRI every three months to check the tumor site for regrowth.
At this time he is in a wheelchair. But he is working hard to gain all control of his body to sit unassisted and stand and walk again. Our home his not wheelchair accessible though we have refinanced our house and plan to begin construction to renovate soon.
Alden is the strongest person I have ever met. He fights every day and works so hard. He is a warrior! The simple things we take for granted, Alden strives to have again. Alden has a faith like I’ve never seen before he continuously tells us his strength comes from the Lord.
Alden has a huge heart he helps me more than I could ever help him. He is a blessing. I do not understand the plan or reason for all that happened but I do believe God truly has a purpose for Alden in this life. #ALDENSTRONG
Braeden started having headaches and nothing would touch them or make them go away. After a week, I took him to the ER and they did a CT scan and found the mass.
He was originally diagnosed on 9/7/2017 and finished treatment 12/15/2017. Then he relapsed and they found a second tumor on 9/24/18. He had surgery on 12/3/2018 and finished treatment 2/19/19. He just *celebrated” one-year N.E.D. (no evidence of disease!) and we are celebrating that milestone!
Braeden is a strong kid! He is scared his tumor will come back again, but doesn’t like to show or acknowledge his fear. He bottles most things up. I thought that doing a photoshoot celebrating the 1-year milestone (especially since he’s been fighting since 2017), would be a good way to cheer him up and give him some hope that he is in the clear and not being scared of it coming back.
Mariaha is a beautiful 4 in a half-year-old little girl. She is full of life and no matter the pain she goes through on a daily basis she will put a smile on your face.
When she was 18 months old she was diagnosed with Anaplastic Ependymoma, a type of brain cancer. God gave us the precious gift of cancer-free free for 3 years.
We found out Mariaha had released and the cancer is back and now is a grade 4. This means it is severely aggresive and dangerously deadly. Well, when I asked what’s the prognosis – what can we do to save my babygirl from this nasty disease? The answers were shocking. There is no cure. Nothing that can help this baby girl besides GOD himself. They say 6 months or less.
Virginia is a bit shy but she has an amazing sense of humor. She loves art. She also loves animals. She has 2 labradoodles and has never met a strange dog in her life. She asks to pet everyone that she sees. She also loves foxes, elephants and foxes.
She was diagnosed in 2015 with Anaplastic Ependymoma. She was sick for about a week before her first diagnosis. She had terrible next pain, balance issues and was throwing up.
Since then, she has had 4 additional reoccurrences. She has had 4 brain surgeries, 2 rounds of radiation and is currently on an immunotherapy trial. She is had for her 5th brain surgery in July.
We have had a hard time being apart and having to travel. We did the first radiation in Jacksonville, Florida. The second radiation in Memphis, Tennessee. Her clinical trial is in Augusta and we have to travel there once a month. Her upcoming surgery will also be in Memphis. Luckily, it is only 3 hours rather the 6 or 7 hours to Augusta, which we plan to continue. Also, we plan to change the chemo that she is on after the surgery. It will be more harsh and she will lose her hair.
We have been walking a very tough road for almost 4 years though we try to be positive and lift each other up and love one another and enjoy every sweet moment together.
