Gavin Retrieval Fund

Gavin on his last day of tri radiation

Gavin for brain surgery on his tumor

Hello

My name is James and I’m asking for help with getting my son to me.

Back in 2006 my son’s mother and I had a beautiful boy named Gavin. He was everything to us and was such an amazing addition to us. After he was about a year old though we noticed, after a few days of him beginning to learn to stand up and walk, he couldn’t even stand up and would cry emphatically when we would try to lift him up to stand on his own. Another symptom something was wrong that at 3:30pm he would suddenly vomit. No matter what he was doing or where he was he would get sick and then be totally okay. He ate fine, had no stomach issues, he would just get sick at the same time each day.

By the third day we were extremely concerned and took him to his doctor. He performed a couple tests, one laying him on his back and pushing against his legs. He said Gavin would push back forcefully but when attempting to stand it was like his legs couldn’t remember what to do. He told us we should take him to the Children’s Hospital downtown in Houston and we asked what we needed to do to make an appointment. The doctor told us, no. Take him right now. He would call ahead for them to set him up for an MRI immediately. That’s when we realized this was much bigger than we though.

After getting him to the hospital, him getting sedated, a few hours later is when the news was given to us. He had a JPA brain tumor in the center of his brain that was inoperable because of the location. He was setup immediately for surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain which was causing these issues and a shunt was put in which made him so he could walk again and not get sick.

Over the years since he has undergone countless MRIs and surgeries, two years of chemotherapy, 28 days of tri radiation and physical and occupational therapies. We were told that, typically, children with this diagnosis have a life expectancy to around eight years old.

This May is going to be Gavin’s 11th birthday. He has been beating the odds and a very strong and handsome young man. One of his passions is collecting rocks and gems from the earth. He is loving, caring and has a huge heart. He greets everyone warmly and is such an amazing boy.

In January 8th of 2017 his mother, who has been dealing with breast cancer and brain cancer, passed away. Gavin had been staying with her and his Grandfather for the past three years as I could not support both of them.

Now, after a year of working and getting a good job and saving some money I am prepared to get my son and bring him to me. This will take more money than I have saved so I am asking for help with purchasing the tickets to get him and bring him home, down payment/security deposit on a larger place he and I can live in together as well as setting up his health insurance and other fees and upcoming bills.

The money you donate will go towards setting up a new life for Gavin and help make this transition easier. His Grandfather and I have decided he will stay with him until the school year is finished and then I will bring him to me so Gavin won’t have an even more traumatic experience moving so soon after his mother has passed away and ripping him from an environment he has known for so long.

I have never been one to ask for much but in this case, for my son, I am dropping my pride and ego to ask for money to help. I will do anything I can for him. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
James