Please help Ben Fight Cancer!
Donation protected
BEN'S STORY
On October 12th, 2017 Ben Vestin's life was forever changed when he was diagnosed with AT/RT , a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Over the past 2 months, Ben has undergone 2 brain surgeries to remove the tumor and begun whole brain/spine radiation and chemotherapy. Treatment will continue over the next 9 months.
So far Ben has proven to be the strongest of everyone and he continues to fight. Above all else, he needs people around him, helping him to stay connected to his world and know that he will be back in his routine again. With support and strength from all of those that care about him, the hope is that he will continue to do so and beat this.
Donations of any size will help to ease the financial burden and allow them to focus on Ben's recovery and their family.
Please join us in supporting the Vestin family as they begin this journey. Any funds not needed directly, the family plans to donate to further find a cure for AT/RT.
For more information about AT/RT cancer, go to:
https://www.dana-farber.org/atrt-atypical-teratoid-rhabdoid-tumor/
https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/hp/child-cns-atrt-treatment-pdq
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A LITTLE ABOUT BEN
Ben was born on November 4th 2003. He is 14 years old. He is smart, happy, with an incredible sense of humor, often beyond his years. Ben lives in Massachusetts with his younger sister Sophie, his parents Eytan and Susan and their dog Charlie. Ben has a love for science (his latest venture looking for water bears an hour after a day procedure!), YouTube, games, fidgets of all kinds, riding his bike, anything water related, and above all being with friends and family.
Ben loves to go to school every day and see his friends, be in his usual routine. Like many kids with Autism, Ben thrives on his routine, consistencies, more than most kids. To miss a day of school or seeing his friends and family is unimaginable to him.
His life started changing 18 months ago when he started having blackouts and loss of balance. He lost 20 lbs. over this same time. Ben had many labs and work ups but his symptoms continued. Ben began to develop severe fatigue over the past few months with more weight loss, progressing headaches, and double vision. In October Ben started vomiting and having severe headaches. The doctor attributed it at first to a stomach bug. They were sent home and told if it was not better in a few days to call. Ben then began to have neurologic changes, and went back to the doctor on October 11th. They ordered an MRI for the next day and went to see an opthomologist to see if it was an eye problem or even migraines. The ophthalmologist requested a rush on the MRI.
On October 11th, 2017 they discovered a 6-7 cm tumor in his frontal lobe with a 9 mm mid-line shift of his brain. They went to Children's Hospital and Ben underwent a resection of his tumor the next day. He was scheduled to begin radiation on November 14th but with set backs did not begin until November 17th.
On November 17th, 2017 they found out he required an additional brain surgery. His tumor had returned in the same location and more aggressive than was thought.
On October 12th, 2017 Ben Vestin's life was forever changed when he was diagnosed with AT/RT , a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Over the past 2 months, Ben has undergone 2 brain surgeries to remove the tumor and begun whole brain/spine radiation and chemotherapy. Treatment will continue over the next 9 months.
So far Ben has proven to be the strongest of everyone and he continues to fight. Above all else, he needs people around him, helping him to stay connected to his world and know that he will be back in his routine again. With support and strength from all of those that care about him, the hope is that he will continue to do so and beat this.
Donations of any size will help to ease the financial burden and allow them to focus on Ben's recovery and their family.
Please join us in supporting the Vestin family as they begin this journey. Any funds not needed directly, the family plans to donate to further find a cure for AT/RT.
For more information about AT/RT cancer, go to:
https://www.dana-farber.org/atrt-atypical-teratoid-rhabdoid-tumor/
https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/hp/child-cns-atrt-treatment-pdq
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A LITTLE ABOUT BEN
Ben was born on November 4th 2003. He is 14 years old. He is smart, happy, with an incredible sense of humor, often beyond his years. Ben lives in Massachusetts with his younger sister Sophie, his parents Eytan and Susan and their dog Charlie. Ben has a love for science (his latest venture looking for water bears an hour after a day procedure!), YouTube, games, fidgets of all kinds, riding his bike, anything water related, and above all being with friends and family.
Ben loves to go to school every day and see his friends, be in his usual routine. Like many kids with Autism, Ben thrives on his routine, consistencies, more than most kids. To miss a day of school or seeing his friends and family is unimaginable to him.
His life started changing 18 months ago when he started having blackouts and loss of balance. He lost 20 lbs. over this same time. Ben had many labs and work ups but his symptoms continued. Ben began to develop severe fatigue over the past few months with more weight loss, progressing headaches, and double vision. In October Ben started vomiting and having severe headaches. The doctor attributed it at first to a stomach bug. They were sent home and told if it was not better in a few days to call. Ben then began to have neurologic changes, and went back to the doctor on October 11th. They ordered an MRI for the next day and went to see an opthomologist to see if it was an eye problem or even migraines. The ophthalmologist requested a rush on the MRI.
On October 11th, 2017 they discovered a 6-7 cm tumor in his frontal lobe with a 9 mm mid-line shift of his brain. They went to Children's Hospital and Ben underwent a resection of his tumor the next day. He was scheduled to begin radiation on November 14th but with set backs did not begin until November 17th.
On November 17th, 2017 they found out he required an additional brain surgery. His tumor had returned in the same location and more aggressive than was thought.
Organizer and beneficiary
Karen McAdams
Organizer
Wellesley, MA
Ben Vestin
Beneficiary
