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<div>Drake’s clear cell sarcoma journey started in early 2024, but looking back, the signs were there before we ever had a name for what was happening.

He was tired all the time. He was losing weight. He had fevers, night sweats, stomach pain, chest pain, and severe anemia. He needed iron infusions and even a blood transfusion before we finally learned what we were dealing with.

In April 2024, at just 14 years old, Drake was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer. His primary tumor was found in his colon and was about 9 cm. He had surgery to remove the tumor, and we were told they had clear margins, but because the cancer had already shown lymphatic involvement, we knew this was not going to be simple.

For a little while, we had hope that surgery had bought us more time without active disease. His scans in late 2024 showed no active metastases. But in early 2025, small spots started showing up in his liver. At first, they were tiny and uncertain, but over time, they grew. More lesions appeared. What started as a few small areas became multiple liver lesions across nearly every segment of his liver.

Clear cell sarcoma is not like more common cancers. There is no clear roadmap. There is no standard cure. It does not respond well to traditional chemotherapy or radiation, and because Drake’s cancer is so rare, especially starting in the GI tract and spreading to the liver, every decision has felt like walking through the dark with only small pieces of information.

We have had scans, repeat scans, PET scans, MRIs, CTs, biopsies, tumor board discussions, and multiple specialist opinions. Some scans showed growth. Some showed treatment response. Some showed areas that were hard to interpret. A biopsy was attempted but came back minimally informative, which was devastating because even getting answers has been difficult.

Drake has been treated with systemic therapy, including targeted and immune-based treatment approaches, and he later underwent liver-directed treatment. He had microwave ablation done on several liver lesions. Some lesions were able to be treated, but others were too close to critical areas, including near the kidney and heart, making them too risky to ablate at that time.

Through all of this, Drake has continued to fight.

He has dealt with fatigue, pain, bloodwork changes, nosebleeds, headaches, weight changes, medication side effects, and the emotional weight of living with a cancer that most people have never even heard of. He has had to grow up in hospital rooms, scan results, treatment plans, and conversations no child should ever have to face.

But Drake is so much more than his diagnosis.

He loves the military and law enforcement. He has a heart for service. Even while battling his own cancer, he continues to care about others, especially other kids going through hard things. Recently, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office made him an honorary deputy, and that moment meant more to him than words can explain. His grandfather was able to pin his badge on him, and seeing a room full of officers show up for Drake reminded us that love and support can still bring light into the hardest places.

As his mom, the hardest part has been learning that with clear cell sarcoma, especially once it has spread, we are often not talking about a cure. We are talking about time. More time. Better time. More options. More research. More awareness. More eyes on this disease so families after us are not left with so few answers.

Drake’s story matters because clear cell sarcoma needs more attention. Families need better treatments. Doctors need more research. Children like Drake deserve more than “rare” being the reason there are not enough options.

Our journey has been filled with fear, hope, grief, strength, and love. We have learned to celebrate small wins, live scan to scan, and keep fighting for every possible option. Drake has shown more courage than most adults ever have to find.

We are sharing his story because awareness matters. Research matters. Funding matters. The rare cancer community matters.

And Drake matters.

If sharing his experience helps even one family feel less alone, helps one doctor look deeper, helps one researcher ask a new question, or helps bring more attention to clear cell sarcoma, then his voice is making a difference.

Drake is not just a patient. He is a son, a brother, a grandson, a friend, a fighter, and one of the bravest people I know. Blue heart.<br />
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Roxanne Taylor

Mallory LaSalvia

monica Zavala

Kevin Smith

Ashley Kirkpatrick

Anonymous

Mederic Ethier

Christine Sanders

Dana Brijs

Nicole Nowak

Patricia Mwangi

Crystal Castillo

Matthew Klecak

Rose Gutierrez

Robert Morse

Drakes Cancer Fight

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