Medulloblastoma Cancer Fundraiser #GrahamStrong

My sister Ashley and her fiancé Matthew have been devastated by the diagnosis of Medulloblastoma brain cancer in their three-year-old son, Graham.

In early July, Graham started complaining of headaches in the front, back, and top of his head. Ashley and Matthew acted quickly regarding his complaints and immediately scheduled a doctor’s appointment with their family physician. Their family physician ordered a CT scan to be performed on Graham’s head, and within hours, doctors found a relatively large tumor in the back of his brain, blocking the brain stem. A fluid buildup was created due to the blockage of the brain stem, causing pressure on his brain and resulting in headaches. Later that night, Graham was rushed into surgery for a life-saving procedure where the neurosurgeons placed a drainage tube on the top of Graham’s head to drain the fluid that had built up around his brain. Only days later, he was taken in for a 13-hour procedure to remove the tumor from his brain, and he is now recovering in the hospital.

After the pathology results returned, Graham was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma Brain Cancer, a common malignant cancer in children. Medulloblastoma starts in the back of the brain, called the cerebellum, which involves muscle coordination, movement, and balance. As his brain is recovering from surgery, Graham’s focus right now is to be able to recover those skills to eat, stand, walk, crawl, grab things, and talk again. Recovering those skills will be a challenge, but Graham does not quit; he is a warrior.

Graham is as sweet as can be, adored by all his family members, for he is the first and only child my sister and her fiancé have together. Graham is a tough one; however, he has a big battle ahead of him, with his oncologist recommending six intense rounds of chemotherapy and radiation in the upcoming months. There is no “cure” for this cancer, but chemotherapy and radiation are two treatments that help kill the remaining cancer cells that can still be in his body. Although Graham is only three years old, this will be the most difficult challenge he will have to face in his life, but we hope that these treatments will allow Graham to be on his road to recovery and remission. We, his family and friends, will all stand together and be by Graham’s side during this journey and remember that there is a “can” in cancer because we can beat it. We are #GrahamStrong.

Contributing to this fundraiser will provide Ashley and Matthew with some financial support that will hopefully allow them to spend as much time as possible with Graham during this challenging process and assist in his rehabilitation, care and medical expenses.

We are sure that the love and support from their family members and friends will carry Ashley and Matthew through these complex challenges. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.