Hope For Riley
Donation protected
Riley Milinkovich-Frandsen is a 16 year old 11th grader at Big Lake High School.
Riley was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007. His cancer was treated as aggressively as possible in an attempt to save Riley's life from a common type of aggressive recurrent cancer, Medulloblastoma. Riley underwent a tumor removal surgery, high dose radiation(6 weeks of 5 days a week), and a year of high dose In patient chemotherapy. Not only did he learn to walk again, but he also lost a piece of himself that treatment took from him.
Riley endured many side affects as a cost of living after brain cancer. Little did we know the treatment we used to save his life from one beast would cause a completely different monster all together. Radiation to his young brain was devastating and it caused many issues years after the initial radiation. But that was nothing compared to what it did to his blood vessels in his brain. The radiation had seriously weaken his arteries, he had 100's of little brain bleeds all over in his brain. The doctors would assure us there weren't in any VITAL locations of the brain.
Until January 20, 2016
Riley had a catastrophic brain hemorrhage/ bleed (stroke) in left pon of the pontine area/brain stem. The radiation we used to save his life from the return of cancer had caused the the weakening of the arteries in the brain. He was rushed to children's hospital unresponsive. This type of hemorrhage left the doctors with little to no hope of Riley's recovery, ever. They score a person based on a coma scale when they present in the ER, 3-15... Riley scored a 4 . The lowest score is 3. This type of brain injury is usually fatal with in days. Since Riley's hemorrhage spread out of the pontine area we were told he would not have any functions ever again. Riley remained"locked in" while we made decisions based on what little information the doctors had given us. However, Riley may have given the doctors little hope of recovery, but he had ways of showing his us he still had his fiighting spirit.
Since then, Riley has regained movement on his left side. He has shocked and awed the very doctors who put limitations on his recovery. Riley was at children's Hospital in Minneapolis for a month before transferring to the inpatient rehab unit at Gillette Childrens Hospital St. Paul. Where Riley continued to make goals and surpas them. Leaving after 2 and a 1/2 months.
As we anticipated his coming home, the shear volume of modications to our home was overwhelming. Riley is in a wheelchair, and needs to have his living area condensed to the family living room. We will be remodeling our home to allow Riley as much privacy as possible on the 1st floor of the home. The remodel will also need to include a full bathroom conversion to allow it to be handicap accessible. Converting the living room to Riley's bedroom is our only option. We can not get an elevator to bring him upstairs because of the cost. He is dependent on us for his transfers to and from bed and wheelchairs.
We were told he would have little to no recovery and he has pushed passed all of that.
Riley was never a quitter especially if times got tough. So, as his family we will not quit either. We intended to bring him home to a room and a bathroom he can use but we could not do it. Riley has been having bed bathes because the bathroom we intended to remodel is still ripped apart. With only one income while Riley is recouping, our funds have priority to bills first. We also had to purchase another vehichle while our lease is still running on our KIA, to provide transportation for therapies 30 miles away each day. Gas, loans, and lease on one pay check is too much to bear. We are in a sticky situation where we need someone to care for Riley but we also need to work. I will be returning to my job in the fall. We need to be a 2 income family. In the mean time, please help us make Riley a room with a wall and a bathroom. Let's get him the necessary electronics to be independent going forward. Riley also needs a ceiling lift for transfers, and many other things. Learning a new life is always a life worth living. We need Riley to see he came home for good reason.
So, we are asking for your donations in order to help us make this happen. Our monetary funds were cut when I, Riley's mom, took a leave at work to be with him at the hospital. Riley's step dad is working more over time than humanly possible to make up the difference. Being proud people we would like to ask for donations to help with Riley's room modications and bathroom remodel only. Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child and a community of wonderful people to help out a family in need. Any donation is apprieciated, feel free to share this with your friends. As Riley's family we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Riley was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007. His cancer was treated as aggressively as possible in an attempt to save Riley's life from a common type of aggressive recurrent cancer, Medulloblastoma. Riley underwent a tumor removal surgery, high dose radiation(6 weeks of 5 days a week), and a year of high dose In patient chemotherapy. Not only did he learn to walk again, but he also lost a piece of himself that treatment took from him.
Riley endured many side affects as a cost of living after brain cancer. Little did we know the treatment we used to save his life from one beast would cause a completely different monster all together. Radiation to his young brain was devastating and it caused many issues years after the initial radiation. But that was nothing compared to what it did to his blood vessels in his brain. The radiation had seriously weaken his arteries, he had 100's of little brain bleeds all over in his brain. The doctors would assure us there weren't in any VITAL locations of the brain.
Until January 20, 2016
Riley had a catastrophic brain hemorrhage/ bleed (stroke) in left pon of the pontine area/brain stem. The radiation we used to save his life from the return of cancer had caused the the weakening of the arteries in the brain. He was rushed to children's hospital unresponsive. This type of hemorrhage left the doctors with little to no hope of Riley's recovery, ever. They score a person based on a coma scale when they present in the ER, 3-15... Riley scored a 4 . The lowest score is 3. This type of brain injury is usually fatal with in days. Since Riley's hemorrhage spread out of the pontine area we were told he would not have any functions ever again. Riley remained"locked in" while we made decisions based on what little information the doctors had given us. However, Riley may have given the doctors little hope of recovery, but he had ways of showing his us he still had his fiighting spirit.
Since then, Riley has regained movement on his left side. He has shocked and awed the very doctors who put limitations on his recovery. Riley was at children's Hospital in Minneapolis for a month before transferring to the inpatient rehab unit at Gillette Childrens Hospital St. Paul. Where Riley continued to make goals and surpas them. Leaving after 2 and a 1/2 months.
As we anticipated his coming home, the shear volume of modications to our home was overwhelming. Riley is in a wheelchair, and needs to have his living area condensed to the family living room. We will be remodeling our home to allow Riley as much privacy as possible on the 1st floor of the home. The remodel will also need to include a full bathroom conversion to allow it to be handicap accessible. Converting the living room to Riley's bedroom is our only option. We can not get an elevator to bring him upstairs because of the cost. He is dependent on us for his transfers to and from bed and wheelchairs.
We were told he would have little to no recovery and he has pushed passed all of that.
Riley was never a quitter especially if times got tough. So, as his family we will not quit either. We intended to bring him home to a room and a bathroom he can use but we could not do it. Riley has been having bed bathes because the bathroom we intended to remodel is still ripped apart. With only one income while Riley is recouping, our funds have priority to bills first. We also had to purchase another vehichle while our lease is still running on our KIA, to provide transportation for therapies 30 miles away each day. Gas, loans, and lease on one pay check is too much to bear. We are in a sticky situation where we need someone to care for Riley but we also need to work. I will be returning to my job in the fall. We need to be a 2 income family. In the mean time, please help us make Riley a room with a wall and a bathroom. Let's get him the necessary electronics to be independent going forward. Riley also needs a ceiling lift for transfers, and many other things. Learning a new life is always a life worth living. We need Riley to see he came home for good reason.
So, we are asking for your donations in order to help us make this happen. Our monetary funds were cut when I, Riley's mom, took a leave at work to be with him at the hospital. Riley's step dad is working more over time than humanly possible to make up the difference. Being proud people we would like to ask for donations to help with Riley's room modications and bathroom remodel only. Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child and a community of wonderful people to help out a family in need. Any donation is apprieciated, feel free to share this with your friends. As Riley's family we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Organizer
Tara Frandsen Valerius
Organizer
Big Lake, MN