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Help #HunterStrong fight this rare cancer (ATRT)

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Hunter is my nephew.  This page is created for the sole benefit of Baby Hunter and every penny donated will go directly to his mother, Amy Henderson, for living and care expenses for her her children during this unexpected family tragedy.  On 12/2/20 HUNTER was diagnosed with Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT) a rare and fast-growing cancerous tumor of the brain and spinal cord that will require extensive therapies and months of hospitalization.

Hunter is such a sweet, happy and loving boy!  He has always loved to dance, loved music and songs, Mickey Mouse, pool days in the summer and playing in the leaves this fall, just like any one year old boy full of life and energy.  He has an older brother and sister who love him to pieces and is a big mamas boy, who loves being spoiled and loved on by all those around him!
On October 23 Hunter got admitted to Levine's children hospital where he stayed for days. He was unable to hold food down and was having noticeable mood changes so he had GI testing, endoscopy, camera down his throat, biopsy to try to find answers. Everything was negative. So he was sent back home.  After getting back home he had good days and bad days. Still having the same problem with food staying down and constipation.
So on Nov. 21 he goes back to Levine's. Shortly after being there he was in ICU and they did a CT scan, things took a turn for the worse. Something a mother never wants to hear, that they were going to have to do brain surgery to remove a large mass on the brain. After he had an MRI to take a better look at what they were dealing with and how to take it on, he went through a 4 hour complicated brain surgery to remove a large mass on the back of his brain and were faced with the possibility of damage to his nerves during surgery. Surgery did not go well as hoped and excessive bleeding required blood transfusions . The tumor was intertwined in his nerves and the surgeon removed most but not all of the mass. The surgeon who removed the tumor said it was in the top 3 of the worst brain tumors he has experienced out of 2,000 surgeries for Hunter's age.  Now began the wait of what kind of tumor this was and if it was treatable.  
Dec 2, We got results from the pathology report and the news was not what we wanted to hear but despite all these horrible things they still have a plan developed for treatment. Hunter is strong and we know he can fight through this. But it’s going to be a long hard road. Hunter has a very rare cancer called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid tumor which available research indicates a near 50% survival rate after treatments. He is now on the rehab floor to gain strength to prepare him for this treatment process he is about to endure. He will be in rehab 2 weeks then will start CHEMO with three 28 day courses over a 6 month period.  Following CHEMO he they will then determine the type and duration of any Radiation Therapy.  Just typing this information is hard enough and the though of this child being subjected to this harsh process is a hard pill to swallow and brings excessive worry and fear over potential side effects and quality of life.
Please please please say a prayer that he can handle all of this and he can beat the odds.
The family is helping out as much as possible, Hunter's mom, Amy Henderson is such a hard worker and has consistently worked hard to provide for her family and unfortunately has had to put her job aside to be there for her son.  She is a single mom who loves and cares for her 3 kids as any good mother would.  Amy was also working to become an EMT but of course family comes first.  While nothing else matters in the world but to make this child better, she needs all the help she can get while being unable to work, staying at the hospital and caring for herself, Hunter and her 2 older children ages 10 and 12.
Any donation to help this mother and her beautiful children during this most tragic time would would be greatly appreciated and will go directly to the care of Hunter and living expenses for the mother and siblings.
We are grateful for your love and support
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Donations 

  • VALERIE CAPEZZUTO
    • $50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Ellyn Kerner
    • $25 
    • 2 yrs
  • Michael Bruce
    • $50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Keith Lusbu
    • $25 
    • 2 yrs
  • Tracy Black
    • $100 
    • 2 yrs
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Fundraising team (2)

Allison Henderson
Organizer
Gastonia, NC
Samantha Cope
Team member

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