Congratulations Gaven…You are this weeks NEGU kid!!!Â
Your courageous fight is a model of Jessie’s motto to Never Ever Give Up!
We are honored to be able to bring awareness to you this week and your courageous fight. You will remain in our thoughts and prayers.
We are so thankful you got one of Jessie’s JoyJars
The 411 on Gaven Michael Weyers…
DOB: May 18, 2011
Cancer Type: ATRT Brain Cancer
Treating Hospital: Toronto Sick Kids
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Song: Thomas Never Ever Give Up Song
Favorite Food: Avocados
Hobbies: Dancing, playing in water, rolling around in his walker, playing with his big sister Payton
Hero: He is a little young for a hero, he does love Thomas the Train but maybe he would consider his sister or his parents his hero.
Facebook:Â https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaven-Michael-Weyers/267455696651558
Gaven’s Stroy from his website…
Gaven is 8 months old and battling cancer. He was diagnosed with ATRT brain cancer and is in for the fight of his life. He has a tremendous support system and we are positive he will beat this disease. Thanks for all the prayers and love. He wants nothing more then to be home with his big sister Payton (2 years old) playing and watching her dance!
HOW IT STARTED
Early December after a fun filled swimming outing to a local pool Gaven threw up, over the next few days he continued to throw up once maybe twice a day. A trip to the family doctor sent them to a specialist in Grimsby and then on to McMaster Children’s Hospital where doctors initially thought something was wrong with his intestines and sent him home with medicine and a warning to return if he threw up again. The next day he did throw up and returned to McMaster Children’s Centre where a CT scan revealed a tumour on the back of his brain on his brain stem. He was immediately prepped for surgery to reduce the fluid/pressure on his brain. The very next day neurosurgeons spent 5 hours removing the tumour from Gaven’s brain. It was extremely scary and a test of faith but the doctors were able to successfully remove the whole tumor.
A week later doctors confirmed what we were hoping wouldn’t be true, the tumour was cancerous.
The next week they revealed to us the details of the cancer, ATRT, an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer.
We wept, we cried, we were overcome with fear. But we are standing strong and committed to helping Gaven through this fight for his life.
TREATMENT PLAN
Gaven’s treatment plan started with aggressive chemotherapy at McMaster Sick Kids Hospital in Hamilton. Three rounds, with each round of chemo lasting three days. This chemotherapy is the strongest dose they can give a child of his age.
Following the chemotherapy, when in remission Gaven will travel to Toronto Sick Kids Hospital for stem cell therapy/treatment. He will be there for 3 months and receive another chemotherapy treatment, which will cause him to become neutropedic (blood coutns, levels all at 0 – essentially wipe them out) and then allow the doctors to put the new stem cells in. They will do this three times over three months.
Following the stem cell transplant they will then do radiation.
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