Crush It Orion! Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Last Wish

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Hello, my name is Lorraine and thank you for visiting our page. My family and I are trying to raise money for my son's final wish to Drive A Tank.

(On his way to Portland 9/20/2021)

The Beginning: In September of 2021, my son was admitted to the hospital and found to have a Grade Four Pediatric Glioma Brain Tumor. Soon after surgery he started 7 weeks of Radiation and Chemotherapy. It took over 2 months to get his biopsy results due to the rarity. In December of 2021, he was given an estimate of 18 to 24 months before the tumor, a stroke, heart attack or seizure would end his life.

We had high hopes and stayed positive, being thankful we had a little more time to spend with him. Unfortunately, 10 months in, we found the tumor had continued to grow deep in his brain, crossing over from the left side into the right side of his brain and down into the brain stem.

(Father and Son Mustaches 8/10/2022)

Things Escalated: On July 8th of 2022, his new prognosis is less than 3 months. My son has since lost the ability to use the right side of his body, has difficulty with his speech and memory. Unfortunately, we are running out of time.

Because of this Urgency to take my son while he is still physically able we are asking for the community's help.

About My Son: He is an avid Rockhound and has been Geocaching with his mother since he was 10 years old. He volunteered many years as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer and he loves bottle feeding Rescue Kittens. Orion enjoyed Chess Club, Forestry and FFA. He plays Warhammer 40K and is an awesome drummer in our family's Xbox Rock Band group. After high school, my son set aside his saxophone to join the military and follow in his father's footsteps. The week before boot camp graduation, he was in immense back pain. After x-rays, they found that he had scoliosis in his spine. With the center of his spine twisted and on crutches to help him stand, he had to watch his friends graduate without him.

After coming home feeling defeated, he set his sights higher and enrolled in college. After a year of testing the waters, he decided to obtain his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. In his final year he started to have great difficulty. His grades were declining and he was having difficulty focusing. At the time he was working as a full-time security guard with full-time classes. He also volunteered at the game store to help people learn his favorite strategy game, Warhammer 40K.

He started having trouble staying awake and we assumed he was overworking himself. I convinced him to take a year off from college and join his father on the road before life got too busy after graduation. Within two months, he had his CDL and was driving a semi with his father. I am sad my son never graduated with his degree but I'm so thankful my husband and son were able to travel the United States together. Some of their best memories are being the first Father and Son team to complete the 72 oz Big Texan Steak Challenge in Texas and touring the USS Alabama Battleship.

When did this start?: After driving for ten months on the truck, my husband started complaining that Orion wasn't listening or remembering what he was supposed to do. He had gained a lot of weight, his back was hurting him again and he started getting horrible migraines. We thought these things were due to the long hours driving. Finally, he starting getting too tired to drive.

After coming home and taking a month to recuperate, he got a job as a tow truck driver. He wanted to save enough money so that he wouldn't have to work and he could fully focus on finishing college.

After two months, the same symptoms on the truck came back but even worse. After visiting the doctor about his spine, we were told that was probably causing the migraines and back pain. Then we found he had a problem with his vision. After an argument consisting of "Listen to your Mother!" He went to see an eye doctor. He was told that there was nothing wrong and the small sphere behind his eye would probably go away. I told him not to leave without a referral to an eye specialist. Thankfully, the eye specialist sent him for a scan at the emergency room, my son was admitted and within 2 hours was sent by ambulance to the cancer institute in Portland, Oregon.

No one is certain when the tumor started growing or why and every symptom had a reasonable explanation.

(Coffee with mom. 2022)

His Wish: After learning to Salute and Oorah as soon as he could walk just like his jarhead father. Orion's life goal was to join the Marine Corps. The thought of being in a tank like his father always put a smile on his face. Now at age 26, Orion's wish is to be able to Drive A Tank. His father and I hope to fulfill this wish for our son with your help.

(Military Museum Portland, OR 2018)

Where and How: We currently live in Salem, Oregon and we will be driving to Kasota, Minnesota to Drive A Tank which is the name of the place.

We hope to be able to put our son in the Ultimate Package. With this package, he will be able to do a Double Car Crush while driving the tank. This package also allows him to have two guests so his father and sister will be by his side. The money raised here will go towards the experience, travel and lodging.

(Mt. Angel, Oregon 2022)

Updates: I will add photos, updates on our trip and videos on YouTube so that you all can share in our son's Joy, our families Happiness and Gratitude. I'm not the greatest video editor but I will do my best.