Travis is a bright light, a beautiful soul, smart, funny, playful, loving, empathetic, retro, and fiercely loyal. He loves music, but not of his own generation. He loves classic rock from the ’60s – ’90’s. He loves to color and owns a vast collection of tie-dye and Grateful Dead shirts. He rocks a pair of red Chuck Taylor high tops. He also rocks a bow tie and vest. He has gorgeous long hair that he plans to donate. He is passionate about raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research. He planned to be a physician-scientist in the field of pediatric brain tumor, but he’s afraid his own brain tumor may make that impossible. He does plan to work at CHOP with kids with cancer in some capacity. He is warm and welcoming. He has a gentle strength that puts people at ease.
My son was healthy, athletic, and smart. I took him to the ER after a bicycle accident, thinking he had a concussion. He didn’t have a concussion. We accidentally found a brain tumor instead.
He has had three brain surgeries. He had two years of chemotherapy from ages 11-13. He’s been seeing a psychologist for seven years. He was diagnosed with clinical depression, acute anxiety, and PTSD when he was thirteen. He has chronic daily nausea and chronic daily headaches. He’s been through numerous tests and surgical procedures to find the cause, but after years, he’s still feeling crummy. Our finances were decimated and never got better. I’m a single mom.
Travis has taught me more about handling adversity with grace and dignity than I ever knew existed. He’s a dynamic and powerful young man with a bright future.
Hope session by Becky Gardner Memories | Facebook | Instagram