Help August and the Hopper-Viola family

Just over two weeks ago, the Hopper/Viola family found themselves in a position that no parent expects and every parent fears.

 
Their son August (11 years old) experienced weeks of 
nausea and vomiting and many visits to numerous practitioners. When an MRI was ordered he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  August was hospitalized immediately and had neurosurgery the following day to remove the mass. 
He went into surgery with no deficits and came out with issues including decreased muscle coordination, strength, and balance.  His eyes are also affected, leaving him with double vision and at this point his eyes that don’t quite work together.  These should resolve in the coming months with rehabilitation, rest, and time.

 They are so fortunate that August retained his speech and cognitive ability.  While his body is slightly different, he is still the same wise, smart, sometimes sarcastic, and often hilarious first child.  He understands that his deficits are temporary and there is great work ahead of him as he faces a year of difficult treatments.  As devastating as this has been, they know his type of cancer, medulloblastoma, is curable. This is huge.

 After brain surgery and a week of recovery at Lurie Children’s hospital, August was transferred just down the street to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. The goal here is to regain his physical strength and coordination and return to baseline. He will soon begin outpatient chemotherapy and proton radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is scheduled 5 days a week for 6 weeks at a facility about an hour away from their home.  This will be difficult and challenging for all. There will be 8 sets of 4-week treatment rounds. Each chemo treatment will require 4+ days of inpatient care at Lurie Children's Hospital.  He will return home after each hospital stay while he integrates back into what he knows as his “normal” life as much as possible.

 August has two younger brothers, Emerson (9) and Milo (5). They miss their brother immensely as they have not been able to see him due to COVID restrictions. Emerson and Milo are each learning what it means for their big brother to have brain cancer – and what it means for each of them in defining their place in their  family through the next difficult year.  Karen and Tim are learning how to be there for all of their children through this crisis. This means someone must be present with August 24 hours a day . They are trading off time at the hospital and at home and doing the switch with the younger children outside of the hospital.

 Karen just graduated and became a licensed pediatric nurse practitioner.  She is a part-time clinical instructor at Lurie, and she works part-time at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, where August is currently inpatient.  While she can work four-hour shifts at Shirley Ryan while staying close to August (with the help of a wonderful group of colleagues), the start of radiation and chemo will  have them on the road for a daily two-hour round trip for proton therapy.  Tim is an actor and his work has been largely on hold throughout the pandemic.  In order to be present with August, Emerson, and Milo, both parents’ capacity to work will be affected.

 As parents, what’s harder than fear about how they’ll make it all work, is that there is no crystal ball to predict what lies ahead.  They know that setbacks and challenges will happen, but with your help, good wishes and prayers they remain positive about the future.

This is where I ask that you please give what you can to this beautiful, humble family. It is so important that they have at least one thing off their plate. We all know that insurance only pays so much.

 Your donation will give them the peace of mind so that they can fully put all of their every bit of the needed energy to get through this rough chapter of their lives.

 I will be posting a weekly update.  Please feel free to write to August.  He loves hearing cards and letters read to him. 

 All your thoughts and positive energy are sincerely appreciated.  

 
Thank you for your many acts of loving kindness in just the past 16 days. 

 
They are so very grateful.

Tim & Karen August, Emerson & Milo thank you from the bottom of their hearts.

 

Julie Waller