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Love and Light for Daxton <<Follow Daxton's journey here!
Preface: I understand many of us are experiencing our own financial hardships: 2020 was not kind to anyone, it seems. It is very difficult to ask for help knowing we all have our share of struggles. So I am asking for your help: if you are unable to contribute monetarily, please consider sharing Daxton's story and GoFundMe with your friends, family, and followers.
We are a family of three: Ashley (mom), Hayden (12yo f), and Daxton (7 yo m).
Daxton started getting sick in September 2019. What started out as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV or positional vertigo) and a slight astigmatism, soon turned into regular migraines with vomiting in February 2020. His school life was interrupted, his balance quickly declined, and his ability to eat and hold food down worsened. He experienced quick, severe headaches, and vomiting. From July 2019 to July 2020, he had not gained any weight because of how little nourishment his body was able to receive. After many doctor visits and consults and appointments with specialists, there was no clear answer for what was causing Daxton's illness. With shared physical custody time split week on/week off between mom and dad, the differing household reports gave the medical professionals conflicting information regarding Daxton's symptoms which made it hard to find a diagnosis or an appropriate plan of treatment. It wasn't until the neurologist watched a video of Daxton's unsteady gait that she agreed imaging was warranted.
On July 7, 2020, Daxton underwent an MRI where a ping-pong ball size brain tumor (medulloblastoma, brain cancer) was discovered. He was life-flighted to ACH in Little Rock that night and underwent a craniotomy and tumor resection the next morning. After a month long stay in the hospital, numerous surgeries, repeat imaging, 7 weeks in Texas for Proton Beam Radiation Therapy, and now monthly trips to Little Rock for chemotherapy cycles, Daxton continues to make improvements and remain positive throughout the journey.
As a single parent to a cancer patient in the middle of a pandemic, I have made the decision to not work until my child's immune system has recovered. As a single income household, this decision was not an easy one, despite being necessary for the health of my child. And while Daxton is handling treatment well, he still has weekly appointments that limit my ability to commit to a job. He still requires monthly trips to Little Rock for treatment, which means we are away from home 4-5 days at a time. His immune system takes a hit each chemo cycle that makes him extra vulnerable to infection or illness for about 2 weeks every month. With Covid-19 wreaking havoc on our communities, it has been necessary for us to stay isolated at home and have both kids attend virtual school.
Daxton has been so positive throughout his journey, and has had few side effects from cancer treatment. He does have some left sided facial paralysis, and he has lost a lot of his hair, but his smile is brilliant and his laughter is still the contagious giggle of my baby.
This fundraiser is to help pay monthly bills so Ashley can focus on Daxton's health and wellbeing, as well as focus on spending time with both Hayden and Daxton. Hayden has been understanding and supportive, but between medical appointments, virtual schooling, and necessary travel, her time with her mom is already cut short: Ashley having a job would further deprive her of valuable time with her children. The money will be used for housing and utility costs, as well as any travel related to Daxton's care.
Preface: I understand many of us are experiencing our own financial hardships: 2020 was not kind to anyone, it seems. It is very difficult to ask for help knowing we all have our share of struggles. So I am asking for your help: if you are unable to contribute monetarily, please consider sharing Daxton's story and GoFundMe with your friends, family, and followers.
We are a family of three: Ashley (mom), Hayden (12yo f), and Daxton (7 yo m).
Daxton started getting sick in September 2019. What started out as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV or positional vertigo) and a slight astigmatism, soon turned into regular migraines with vomiting in February 2020. His school life was interrupted, his balance quickly declined, and his ability to eat and hold food down worsened. He experienced quick, severe headaches, and vomiting. From July 2019 to July 2020, he had not gained any weight because of how little nourishment his body was able to receive. After many doctor visits and consults and appointments with specialists, there was no clear answer for what was causing Daxton's illness. With shared physical custody time split week on/week off between mom and dad, the differing household reports gave the medical professionals conflicting information regarding Daxton's symptoms which made it hard to find a diagnosis or an appropriate plan of treatment. It wasn't until the neurologist watched a video of Daxton's unsteady gait that she agreed imaging was warranted.
On July 7, 2020, Daxton underwent an MRI where a ping-pong ball size brain tumor (medulloblastoma, brain cancer) was discovered. He was life-flighted to ACH in Little Rock that night and underwent a craniotomy and tumor resection the next morning. After a month long stay in the hospital, numerous surgeries, repeat imaging, 7 weeks in Texas for Proton Beam Radiation Therapy, and now monthly trips to Little Rock for chemotherapy cycles, Daxton continues to make improvements and remain positive throughout the journey.
As a single parent to a cancer patient in the middle of a pandemic, I have made the decision to not work until my child's immune system has recovered. As a single income household, this decision was not an easy one, despite being necessary for the health of my child. And while Daxton is handling treatment well, he still has weekly appointments that limit my ability to commit to a job. He still requires monthly trips to Little Rock for treatment, which means we are away from home 4-5 days at a time. His immune system takes a hit each chemo cycle that makes him extra vulnerable to infection or illness for about 2 weeks every month. With Covid-19 wreaking havoc on our communities, it has been necessary for us to stay isolated at home and have both kids attend virtual school.
Daxton has been so positive throughout his journey, and has had few side effects from cancer treatment. He does have some left sided facial paralysis, and he has lost a lot of his hair, but his smile is brilliant and his laughter is still the contagious giggle of my baby.
This fundraiser is to help pay monthly bills so Ashley can focus on Daxton's health and wellbeing, as well as focus on spending time with both Hayden and Daxton. Hayden has been understanding and supportive, but between medical appointments, virtual schooling, and necessary travel, her time with her mom is already cut short: Ashley having a job would further deprive her of valuable time with her children. The money will be used for housing and utility costs, as well as any travel related to Daxton's care.
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