Support Colton Bentz's Fight Against Cancer

In the Fall of 2024, Colton was an active third grader – playing youth basketball, soccer, baseball, and football. During the winter he suddenly was plagued by intermittent pain and discomfort in his left thigh. We thought the pain would subside with a little rest or at least could be growing pains as a nine year old.

We eventually found ourselves at the doctor in our local town at urgent care, CNOS, from there they referred him to Children’s Oncology in Sioux Falls. Where he went through two rounds of biopsies which then led us to The Mayo Clinic that found the Ewing Sarcoma diagnosis.

Now in an unfamiliar hospital, surrounded by doctors speaking what seemed to be a foreign language. Our medical team began testing with a biopsy of his bone and bone marrow. As you can imagine as a mother the waiting for results was practically unbearable.

Following numerous tests, our medical team concluded that Colton’s cancer was localized, and therefore had not spread to other parts of his body. The doctors were incredibly compassionate as they helped explain the cancer diagnosis to us alongside the treatment plan.

On March 10th, 2025, Colton had his surgery to insert his port. Colton began the first of 12 cycle's of chemotherapy on March 11, 2025. On top of the tidal wave of medical decisions to be made, we began wondering how all of this would impact school and Colton’s extracurricular passions. Would life ever be the same for my son?

Early into Colton’s first hospitalization, we were told that Colton wouldn’t be able to continue attending school and would need to be homeschool for the duration of his third grade year and partially part of his fourth grade year.

Doctor’s and nurses helped explain medical procedures to Colton and calmed many of his fears understood Colton’s emotions, and anticipated his needs. For example, accessing Colton’s portacath wasn’t always easy, so the nurses encouraged Colton to be vocal. There, the transformation of a quiet, fairly shy boy, although still uncertain, to a determined fighter and self-advocate.

Doctor’s determined that Doxorubicin (a.k.a. Red Devil), was the best choice to fight this cancer. As a family, watching Colton go through this has been extremely difficult and heartbreaking. From a nine year old boy who likes to shoot hoops in the driveway with his brother to a boy that is so weak that he sleeps all day.

Each of our doctors have been accommodating when it comes to providing Colton with the support needed for this process. This is going to have to incorporated dietary recommendations, supplements and physical therapy.

We are referring to this time period as the “dark days.” This young man, who anyone would distinctly define as a spirited and tenacious 9-year-old, would have to now summon those qualities in order to push forward through the next uncertain months of chemotherapy.

We can’t help but marvel at Colton’s quiet strength and grace, and he has taught us and his other four sibling's how to appreciate the little things in life and to be thankful for each day we’re

As we tackle this as a family you can imagine the financial hardship and strain it has on our family.

Any financial support you can give to help support would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance and for your consideration.

The Harris (Radley) family.