Help Grant Beat Medulloblastoma

#TheIncredibleGrant

Grant is a handsome boy who loves trucks, ATVs, the Hulk, animals, his three sisters, fries, and camp. If his eyes aren’t enough to melt you, wait until you see his smile. He’s had his share of challenges in life, as many kids born with rare chromosomal disorders do, but he is no stranger to working hard and overcoming these challenges. His several rare medical conditions have taught him to fight and, with the support of his family, he has fought hard. 

He is now in the toughest fight of his life. Grant celebrated his 8th birthday on August 13th and the world as the Kuroiwas knew it changed two weeks later. Nicole, his mom, advocate, and biggest supporter, noticed some strange symptoms and took Grant to the ER. After running some tests, she and Grant’s dad, Josh, received the worst news any parents could hear. The cause of Grant’s symptoms was a malignant brain tumor. 

Grant was taken back for an urgent and critical neurosurgery to remove the malignancy. Like everything in his life, Grant ROCKED the surgery and was in the hospital recovering when his family’s world was shaken once again. He was officially diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a rare form of childhood brain cancer. It is so rare that only about 300 cases are diagnosed each year. The doctors, Josh, and Nicole formed a treatment plan. Grant would undergo six weeks of specialized proton beam radiation therapy at M.D. Anderson in Houston (over three hours away from home). After that, he would return home for another grueling year of chemotherapy. 

The logistical nightmare of having three of your four kids in school (the fourth being just a toddler), having a husband who is going through his own medical residency, and having no family nearby has Nicole using her multi-tasking and organizational talents to their max. The stress of the financial burden this has placed should be the last thing the Kuroiwas have to worry about.

Three hours away. Endless tanks of gas going back and forth to meet the needs of every family member. Costly meals every day in the hotel room - where there’s no kitchen. Things to keep the kids occupied while ticking off the hours in the hospital. Hotel bills wearing out the credit card. And anything and everything Grant may need to make this painful and difficult time easier. 

Anyone who knows the Kuroiwas knows they have servant hearts. If you’ve had a bad day, Nicole is the first to show up on your doorstep with dinner (and dessert!). When you’re in a bind for help with your kids, she doesn’t consider how tired she is taking care of her own four kids, she welcomes yours too. She is the person you call to help with a bake sale, a DIY costume in distress, or anything else. 

Now is the time they need us. Let’s show their family how much we love them, appreciate them, and are fighting with them. Please consider giving a gift of any size, big or small, to try to lift a little of this burden off their shoulders.