Right before Christmas, 5-year-old Kase began experiencing persistent abdominal and leg pain. What we initially hoped would be something minor quickly turned into something far more serious. We were referred to a GI and Liver Specialist, and within a week Kase underwent multiple tests, including an endoscopic procedure.

During that procedure, doctors found several concerning lumps in his stomach, something they had never seen before. The specialist made the decision not to biopsy at that time because of how unusual the tumors appeared. We were urgently scheduled for an MRI.

At the end of January, the MRI revealed devastating news: Kase has four extremely rare tumors in his stomach. That same day, his doctor called to explain that she and three other specialists had reviewed the imaging and still could not determine exactly what they were dealing with. There was no clear diagnosis. No clear plan. Just uncertainty.

On February 17th, we were scheduled for an endoscopic ultrasound. What we thought would be a quick procedure and a step toward answers became something much bigger. After beginning the procedure, the lead physician came out and told me:

“Between the three of us, there’s close to 80 years of experience in that operating room,and we have NEVER seen anything like this.”

The initial good news was that the tumors are currently benign,but doctors warned they will become cancerous if not treated.

They could only safely access one tumor and asked for my consent to sample it and attempt to open it into the GI tract. If successful, they hoped to repeat the procedure on the others. If not, Kase would need major surgery.

I agreed, trusting their judgment.

Two hours later, the doctor returned with difficult news. The tumor was much deeper than expected. In order to treat it, they had to perforate Kase’s stomach and close the opening with surgical clamps to prevent further damage. What was supposed to be minimally invasive became far more complex.

Kase is now hospitalized for a minimum of five days, longer if complications arise. He cannot eat or drink. He currently has a tube placed through his nose into his stomach to remove fluid from his GI tract. We are hoping he can soon transition to a feeding tube, but we have been told not to get our hopes up too quickly.

To make this even more challenging, Kase is 5 years old and autistic. The goal right now is for him to remain calm and still so his stomach can heal, but that is incredibly difficult for him. His behavioral episodes have intensified due to pain, confusion, and the hospital environment. We are now facing the possibility of sedation and transfer to the ICU to help him safely rest and recover.

The other tumors are currently inaccessible and pulsating, and doctors were unable to reach them during the procedure. We will be meeting with specialists again in the coming days to determine the next steps. We have been told this will be a long road with multiple operations ahead.

As parents, we are overwhelmed, scared, and trying to stay strong for our sweet boy.

We are asking for prayers, support, and help as we walk through this unknown journey. Every donation will go toward Kase’s medical care, hospital stays, future surgeries, travel, and the ongoing needs that come with long-term treatment.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, and supported Kase and his family during this time. We will continue to update as we learn more.

Please keep sweet Kase in your prayers. He needs them now more than ever. ❤️