Adelaide's Journey: Supporting Cancer Research through PMC

Hello family and friends. Thank you for taking the time to read about our story. On December 2nd, my wife and I took our youngest daughter Adelaide to Boston Children's Hospital after a number of concerning symptoms started to present themselves. Through several tests, it was discovered that she had a tumor on her brain. She was immediately taken into surgery where the amazing staff at BCH were able to successfully remove 100% of the visible tumor. Adelaide remained at BCH recovering from her brain surgery for the following week and has made amazing strides in her recovery from the surgery itself. Since then, we have learned more about the type of tumor that had been growing in her brain. She had a rare choroid plexus tumor which was located in the posterior fossa, a small section of the skull which includes the cerebellum, brainstem, and other vital structures within the brain. Due to its location and size, following the successful resection of the tumor, it was suggested that she undergo a lumbar puncture to determine whether the cancer cells had spread into her spinal cord. We have been very fortunate throughout this journey in that her surgery was successful, her recovery has been going well and that the lumbar puncture came back clear of cancer cells. We are beyond grateful that Adelaide will not require further treatment in the form of chemotherapy or radiation and will instead be able to move forward relying on imaging via MRI every 3 months. Upon discharge from the ICU at Boston Children's Hospital, Adelaide has been very closely observed by several teams that are monitoring her progress following her brain surgery recovery. In addition, she is being seen by the oncology team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where they will continue to keep an eye on her brain, as her type of tumor has a higher recurrence rate.

Our family will never have the words to express the gratitude that we feel for both Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber and the pivotal role that they played in fixing and saving our daughter. This year, I will be participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge. The PMC's mission is to raise funds for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber. I will be riding the 161 mile route from Wellesley to Provincetown in honor of Adealide's journey and would be forever grateful for any contribution made towards my goal to Dana-Farber.