Victory for Vann

Vann is an 11-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with a malignant non-operable brain tumor. Please help support his family as they battle to save his life.

Those of you who know me from high school know that I was never far from Anne Clayton (now Burpee). Not only was she by my side during my own battle with childhood cancer, she has remained there for over 30 years. She is loyal, to say the least, and she is so much more. Loving. Funny. Selfless. Smart. Caring. Spirited. And now, a mom.

Her 11-year-old son, Vann, has recently been diagnosed with pineal region germinoma, a malignant brain tumor. The tumor is on his brain stem and so cannot be removed with surgery. He has already undergone two invasive diagnostic brain surgeries, is undergoing a third surgery to put in his port, and will have chemotherapy three days in a row for the next 4 to 5 months. He will also undergo radiation everyday for 5 weeks (except weekends). 

The time away from work and medical bills for Anne and her husband Victor are mounting. Victor is a commercial truck driver and is paid by the job. He has missed several jobs so far so that he can be there to support his son. Anne was planning to return to work this year, but cannot now due to Vann’s demanding treatment schedule. They have an annual $5,700 insurance deductible and then annually must pay 10% of all treatments until they reach $11,400. That amount will then reset first of the year. 

I am blessed to have the opportunity to give back to Anne and her family the way she has always so selflessly given to me. In partnership with her sister Katie, I am sponsoring her GoFundMe page to raise money for Vann’s treatment and support for the family. Please consider donating to help this more-than-worthy family save their son’s life.

To learn more about Vann’s story see this recent newscast.   

https://www.wtol.com/video/news/local/victory-for-vann-draws-community-support-for-tecumseh-boy-with-brain-cancer/512-f51c8d2b-c174-4fcd-b494-b8a4c233da17?fbclid=IwAR2O_H6-5XAcZqtbf8cmbvCVUcI-cClzSdQuowe5KclwU5028OQA9i5Qlik