Gage

It was the summer of 2018. What we thought was just a little illness turned into something no parent could ever imagine….

Gage was sleeping and couldn’t wake up for more than a couple of minutes at a time. We took him to his pediatrician, and he told us to go to Children’s Hospital right away. Initially, they suspected Lyme disease or meningitis. The neurologist wanted to do a CT scan of his brain to rule out the “big things”

A team of doctors walked in with a printout from the CT scan.

“Your son has a large mass.” A day we will never forget. August 7, 2018.

The brain cancer is called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT). A very rare, aggressive tumor of the central nervous system

Gage had a 10 hour brain surgery, then started on an aggressive regimen of high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

Unfortunately, he relapsed in late 2019. He had 6 weeks of radiation and another 8 months of chemotherapy.

He has had no evidence of disease since. 

Shortly after treatment, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. This was caused by his previous brain surgeries. His seizures could not be controlled. In October 2022, he underwent a hemispherectomy. That’s where they basically removed most of the left side of his brain. He hasn’t had a single seizure since!!!

And here we are going into the summer of 2024. Gage is 8 years, and he is healthy and happy as can be!!! This kid loves life. 

Follow Gage on Facebook: Team Gage