Overcome Cancer Together #AdrianStrong

On Sept 14, 2024, Kristen Durbin took Adrian to Fast Pace in Lexington for some concerns that he had of being swollen and tender in an area uncomfortable for most boys to admit to their mom. The doctor at Fast Pace immediately wanted to send them to the emergency room at JMCGH to have it further examined. They were sent home later that evening, being told that he had a hematoma to his right testicle, probably likely due to an injury. He admits he did run into a table. However, the doctor said, "I am going to send you guys to see a specialist." Fast forward to Oct 4, they go to see the specialist. The news happens quick and sudden and throws mom off. “Adrian has to be in Nashville tomorrow for surgery”—basically exploratory surgery. He has a mass on his right testicle; it could be cancer, it may not be; we won’t know until we get in there. They make the trip to Nashville with less than 24 hours to plan: who’s going to watch the younger kids, gas money, how long is this going to be a stay. They didn’t know what was going to come next. The next morning, they made it to Nashville and were explained a little more about the surgery. They were told they may or may not have to remove his testicle; we will know when we get in there. What mom was not told until a later date and what many people don’t know and realize is when oxygen hits cancer… it spreads.

They do remove the mass, but they also have to remove his right testicle. They are released to come home the same day and told they will send it off to be biopsied and they will know in a week or so. Then they get a phone call: “Adrian has an appointment on the 17th to discuss his results”, so for the next 10 days, every possibility is running through mom’s head.

On 10/17/2024, Adrian was officially diagnosed with testicular cancer by his doctor at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. We also found out that it had spread to his abdomen.

Adrian has 3 upcoming appointments on Tuesday, 10/22: one with the oncologist, one with the lung doctor, and one for a hearing test. Afterwards, Adrian will have a port placed on Friday, 10/25, and will begin chemo treatments. The chemo treatments will vary; some will be one-day treatments and stays, and others will be five-day treatments and stays.

With this being said, Mom also has a 13-year-old son, a 10-year-old son, a 6-year-old daughter, and a 3-year-old son at home, and every single one of their lives just changed. The oldest one understands more, but he shouldn’t have to. The younger three don’t understand. They aren’t going to understand why mom is going to need friends and family to step in and help them get to and from school, cook meals, and go to bed at night while she’s gone. The two youngest aren’t going to understand why their favorite big brother isn’t going to want to grab them and throw them in the air after coming home from a week of treatment. It’s going to be a big change.

Mom is also going to have to take a leave from work, which secures her job when she’s ready to come back, which is great. However, this leave is a leave without pay. She still has bills that have to be paid, on top of gas to get back and forth, food while she’s up there for her, toiletries, and maintaining her home.

We know that Vanderbilt partners with the Ronald McDonald House for long-term stays, and she can talk with a case worker through the hospital about that if it comes to that. However, the need currently is to stay with Adrian in the hospital and to still be able to maintain as much as possible a living environment for her other children as well.

If you would like to donate, please do so. We have set a starting goal at $1500 just to help cover some bills while she’s missing work, and gas.

More than anything, please, please, please pray for our boy and this family!!

We ARE #ADRIANSTRONG

HIS FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT!!!