Xander was diagnosed with neuroblastoma on May 17, 2019, when he was just ten weeks old. Before the diagnosis, he had a bellybutton hernia and a swollen belly that doctors thought was just gas. His mom knew something was wrong because he absolutely hated tummy time, didn’t like being held over her shoulder, and would randomly cry out in pain.
Xander has some limitations due to his diagnosis, including high-pitched hearing loss and a slight speech delay.
He has been through many treatments and procedures, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy the first time he fought cancer. When the cancer returned, he underwent brain surgery, radiation, and more chemotherapy.
Being their eldest, Xander’s family missed out on many typical baby experiences. They wonder how different things might have been without cancer, especially since Xander has ADHD and they don’t know if it would have developed without the chemo and radiation treatments.
Xander is extremely outgoing and no one is a stranger to him. He loves people, is compassionate, thoughtful, and a great big brother. He enjoys all things boy, including Sonic, Mario, Marvel, playing outside, and going to the park and pool.
He is the strongest person his family knows. He has been through hell and back twice, and you wouldn’t know it just by how he interacts with the world.
Hope session by Photography by Emma Brown