Join Shepherd's Fight Against Brain Cancer

On Mothers day of this year, our 11-year-old son, Shepherd, was experiencing bad headaches. The headaches worsened throughout the day, causing vomiting and blurred vision. We took him to the ER in Auburn, CA (where we live) that same day. After a CT scan, he was transferred by ambulance to Sutter Hospital in downtown Sacramento. We spent 5 days in the pediatric ICU because an MRI showed swelling of the brain. After 5 days of tests and treatment, Sutter decided to transfer Shep (short for Shepherd) to UCSF Benioff Children's hospital in San Francisco where he spent 2 weeks in the hospital enduring all kinds of tests and procedures including a brain biopsy and a lumbar puncture. Due to the hospital being 2.5 hours from our home, my wife and I (and the baby) traded off staying in the hospital and a hotel so that someone could stay with Shep at all times. After 20 days in the hospital, Shep's brain biopsy results confirmed our greatest fear: that he had brain cancer. His cancer is called Glioma. There is no single tumor, but rather cancerous cells throughout his brain tissue. Thankfully, his cognitive functions are not affected yet but his facial muscles and vision are affected. His headaches are bad from the pressure in his brain. We are still awaiting final pathology results for the subtype of Glioma, however, the oncologist let us know that there really aren't any standard treatment protocols for this type of cancer. We are looking into and researching alternative treatment therapies, not covered by insurance, to prolong our son's life and maybe even heal him. We are asking for help paying for his medical bills to-date, future medical bills, and treatment options. Ask anyone who knows Shepherd, and they will tell you he is the kindest, big-hearted, polite, unselfish and gracious child. He has been so strong and kind through this experience and has always thanked his mother and I and his nurses and doctors for all their help and support even when he was in pain. He still worries more about how this is affecting those around him than himself. He deserves our best efforts. Thank you for your support and prayers.