Hello Friends,
Our family has come a long way since December 18, 2021. It's hard for me to believe that more than a year has passed since my 6 year old (age at that time) nephew Shane(tastic) was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Time flies, but still the moments feel like hours when they are passing. Therapies, medications, bleach baths, doctor appointments, MRI's, EKGs, bloodwork draws, accupunture, brace adjustments, talk therapy, eye exams, physical therapy, occupational therapy, paperwork, joy, tears, disappointment, and HOPE fill all those moments. Shane(tastic) has been a trouper! No child should have to go through what he is facing daily...our little hero.
We could not have made it this far without the loving and unwavering support of our friends and family. Thank you, each of you, for walking with us on this long and arduous journey.
We are once again participating in the Angels Among Us run/walk this April. Last year we hesitantly joined the walk as we were still shell shocked by our new reality and not sure what to expect. As suspected it was a difficult day walking by the many signs with pictures of the sweet little angels who had lost their fight against brain cancer. However, we also walked with many SURVIVORS that day. It seems there is HOPE. However, HOPE doesn't develop new therapies to defeat childhood brain cancer. It takes private and public funding to get new therapies to trial because the big pharmaceutical companies aren't interested in developing new drugs for children. It's just not lucrative enough for Big Pharma.
We are so grateful every day to have Shane(tastic) still here with us living the new version of his "7 yr old best life" and we will continue to fight by his side without hesitation! Pediatric brain cancer is the #1 cancer that kills children and it remains the least funded. Our Shane(tastic) still has a quality of life presently because of the development of "experimental" drugs/trials that "grassroots" fundraising supports. Just five years ago the drug trials available now that are giving him a chance to survive with quality of life didn't exist. The "old school" treatments for brain cancer that have been around for decades are unexceptable for children and we need to make a change for all the little angels fighting their fight against brain cancer!!! We are in a race against time.
We are so lucky to live so close to Duke Hospital with it's world renowned pediatric department. The team of professionals working with Shane(tastic) are champions for his individual needs and care. Please, join me in supporting Duke in its ground breaking research and advocacy for ALL CHILDREN by donating to the "Angels Among Us" run/walk.
Even better, join our team for the walk. Having you with us for the walk would be the best ever! WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.
Peace & Love,
Aunt Dawnie
(P.S.) If you can join us for the walk, here is a link where you can order a "Team Shane" tshirt that will ship to us and we will bring to the walk on 4/22. This link will work until midnight tonight only (4/7/23). Sorry for the last minute on this. Unfortunetly, that's just how we roll these days. Copy and paste the following link:
https://www.customink.com/g/pvf0-00cq-zma9
If you can't join us for the walk and/or live out of the area, we will post an alternate link later that will allow you to ship your shirt directly to your address.
The purchase of these shirts is not a fundraising tool. The price of the shirts is set by the vendor. We hope you'll buy one and wear it in support of Shane's fight. There is a QR code on the back of the shirts that links to our GoFundMe page.