Ryan is a Diman High Graduate, class of 2004 and Sharon is a graduate of Durfee class of 2005. A few of his classmates had heard what he and his family were going through and decided to show some community support. Finn's Fierce Fight is a fundraiser in hopes to help a young selfless couple who has taken a 3yr old boy with Anaplastic Ependymoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor, and cancer under their wings with love and support.

 

Time sits still when you are waiting for a loved one to get out of a 9-hour surgery, but time sits still when you are told the journey must continue on to the roughest and toughest road ahead. You forget to take care of yourself caring for a sick child... but we are here to show that this family has the support from the community.

 

 

 

 

Brief Summary:

3yr old boy Finn with a rare and aggressive brain tumor, and cancer.

 

The courageousness, selflessness, patience, and care from both Sharon and Ryan who have put their entire lives on hold for this baby.

 

"He continues to remind everyone he meets what life is really about."- Ryan & Sharon

 

 

 

Multiple emergency room and doctor visits- Covid tested numerous times and was told he just had a virus. 10/7/20 Discovery of a large tumor in his brain.

The very next day he underwent a 9-hour emergency surgery which removed most of the tumor.

He spent 2.5 weeks in intensive care.

Had to have therapy to relearn how to walk, speak, and swallow.

Cancer cells were discovered in the fluid around the brain and in the spinal cord.

 

 

 

 

Since his diagnosis in 2020:

8 rounds of high dose chemotherapy

2 major brain surgeries totaling 21 hours

Over 3 months in the hospital

Daily maintenance chemotherapy at home

Weekly in-clinic visits

Physical therapy

Early Intervention

Chemotherapy and Radiation needed with several other therapy sessions.

 

He still maintains his contagious smile and happy-go-lucky attitude.

Let’s show support to this 3-year-old who loves his dogs, dinosaurs, and superheroes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed Story:

On 2/21/2019 Ryan and Sharon received a phone call and learned of Finn’s premature birth and health conditions. At the drop of a hat, Ryan and Sharon both agreed to do all they could to make sure this baby was safe and well taken care of. Considering all he had been through in just a few months of his life, he was thriving and doing well thanks to the courageousness, selflessness, patience, and care from both Sharon and Ryan who had put their entire lives on hold for this baby. Sharon and Ryan drove daily to Women and Infants Hospital to learn how to care for a premature newborn baby, and show Finn the love, nurture, and care that he deserved. While spending time at the hospital they would read to him, play music, snuggle him, and just love this 3-pound baby boy.

He came home on 3/6/19 with everything a newborn would need with the support of family, friends, and love. Sharon and Ryan fought daily to advocate for Finn’s health, development, and needs. He was involved in therapies, playgroups and met with every specialist needed to support his development. In his first year of life, he had three surgeries, but that was not a setback. Finn was meeting his milestones and was a part of a wonderful circle of support. Sharon and Ryan adopt Finn on 11/20/20.

 

8/ 2020, Sharon and Ryan along with those who spend a lot of time with Finn noticed he had been a little off. Both Sharon and Ryan had visited the doctors multiple times, had taken various trips to the emergency room, and had him Covid tested numerous times. During each visit, they were told Finn just had a virus. When finally meeting with his pediatrician and insisting something was wrong, he was sent to see a neurologist to get a second opinion and a better look at his situation, and that is when everything changed so quickly in their lives. 

 

On 10/7/20 Finn was brought to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and they did several tests as well as an MRI, which led to the discovery of Finn having a large tumor in his 4th ventricle in his brain. The very next day he underwent a 9-hour emergency surgery which removed most of the tumor. A week after they discovered the mass, Finn was diagnosed with Anaplastic Ependymoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor.

 

After being in the PICU for 2.5 weeks he was then transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Boston so he could relearn how to walk, speak, and swallow. During that time Sharon and Ryan went to every session, every meeting, and reached out to as many people and resources as possible to make sure Finn was getting the very best care. Within this same time frame, cancer cells were discovered in his CSF, the fluid that flows in both your brain and spinal cord.

 

The regular course of action is surgery and radiation therapy, but with the discovery of the cells in the CSF Finn will have to undergo a few rounds of chemotherapy before his 6 weeks of proton radiation at Mass General Hospital in Boston, which will most likely be followed by more chemotherapy as reinforcements against cancer. 

Some of Finn's other medical problems have now been put on hold while he fights against the greatest villain of all time and despite all of this he still maintains his contagious smile and happy-go-lucky attitude.

 

Since his diagnosis in 2020 Finn has undergone 8 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, had 2 major brain surgeries totaling 21 hours, has spent in total over 3 months in the hospital due to side effects from the chemotherapy, and had an ommaya placed on his head so he can now get chemotherapy directly into his spinal fluid/brain. 

He continues daily maintenance chemotherapy at home and also weekly in-clinic visits, he gets physical therapy along with early intervention. 

When Finn is 3 in January and his brain is close to being fully developed he will start his 6 weeks of the full brain and spine proton radiation at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Despite everything, Finn is a thriving 2.5-year-old who loves his dogs, dinosaurs, and superheroes!

 

"He continues to remind everyone he meets what life is really about."- Sharon & Ryan

Let’s show this young boy and couple our community support.