A cure for Brandon Hicks

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SUPPORT 18Y/O BRANDON IN HIS ONGOING BATTLE AGAINST CANCER - PLEASE READ

Our son Brandon was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, bone cancer, in June of 2020; since then, he has fought a hard battle trying to beat this beast. He first relapsed after just six months in remission. Cancer had spread to his lungs. After surgery, chemo, and fighting multiple infections, it was determined that chemo needed to be stopped as his body was no longer tolerating it. In June 2022, just days after he graduated from High School, we learned that, once again, the cancer was back in his lungs. He had surgery to remove it and was awaiting admittance into a clinical trial. During scans, it was found that cancer had spread to his rib, and he was no longer eligible for that trial. Fast forward to September 2022, he started having severe pain in his back. We called, and an x-ray was performed. A CT was ordered for the next day; we discovered that a mass between his t8-t9 ribs caused the pain. The following week he was admitted to the hospital for surgery, but first, they wanted to do a spinal MRI. It was found that the mass was starting to wrap around his spinal column and that surgery wasn't an option. The time to recover, knowing they couldn't have got the entire mass, would have allowed the tumor to start growing again. They immediately started radiation which was followed by chemo. We ultimately have been told that his doctor cannot cure him and that the purpose of the chemo now is to buy him more time. This is not something any parent wants to hear, EVER! Those words cut deep, though you try to keep a brave face for your kids.

The best way to fight osteosarcoma is to remove the tumor; that is not an option. His most recent CT showed new nodules on his lungs. He will do one more round of chemo to see if there are any changes. If not, we will have to look into a different approach.

We do not know what to do right now, though our boy is continuing his fight. We have looked into Hope4Cancer, which offers a treatment program located at a clinic in Mexico that includes a 3-week inpatient stay as well as special equipment for us to continue his treatment at home. This includes Sunivera Immunotherapy, Salvus Immunotherapy, AIC therapy, IV doses of B-17 and Vitamin C, and a strict meal plan to keep his body healthy while going through this treatment. It's required to be paid in full before treatment begins, and his treatment will cost $56K.

We started this fundraiser before deciding because we understand it takes time to raise money. We don't want delays should this be the approach we need to take, and unfortunately, we don't have this amount lying around. If this is his option, we will do everything we can to get him there for treatment. If he opts to take a different route, any funds raised will be used to do what Brandon wants. We're in a pinch where it's difficult for us to ask for money, but we want to be fully prepared if this could be an option.