On November 18th, we received the life-altering news that Franklin has been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) — a rare and brutally aggressive inoperable brain tumor found in the pons that is part of the brainstem. It tragically ends up taking the life of children primarily ages 3-11….it moves very quickly and parents are typically told 6-9 months to live after diagnosis, go home and make memories….with a 0% survival rate, there is currently no cure. Our world was turned upside down in an instant, and we have been doing everything in our power to support him through this fight.

DIPG is relentless, but so are we. We are cherishing every moment we have with him and making the best memories as a family in whatever time we are given. Frankie fights every day with everything he has to gain back his abilities that were stripped from him so abruptly. His strength and spirit is inspiring and pushes us to move forward with unwavering determination to beat the odds.

We are reaching out now to ask for help so we can continue to be able to give Frankie the future he deserves. This diagnosis has changed everything. We're doing everything in our power to give him the best medical care, the most comfort, and as many joyful, love-filled moments as we can. This means traveling to specialists, taking time off work, and exploring treatment options-many of which are not covered by insurance.

Your donation will go directly toward helping cover:

* Medical expenses not covered by insurance (medications, therapies, consultations, clinical trials)

* Travel and lodging for appointments with DIPG specialists and treatment centers

* Loss of income so we can take time off work and be by Frankie's side every step of the way

* Comfort and care items to make Frankie's days feel as normal as possible while he works to overcome his current physical challenges

* Memory-making experiences for Frankie in the time we have together

If you can give, no matter how small, it brings us one step closer to giving Frankie the love, care, and chance he deserves. If you can't, please consider sharing this link with your friends, family, and communities.

Most of all we ask you to please pray for Frankie and our family. Our Frankie still has a lot of love and life to give and we will continue to stay positive and have faith that better days are ahead. We are deeply grateful for every dollar, every share, and every prayer that helps our son and family get through this extremely difficult time.

Frankie is facing a battle that no child should ever have to fight but we will never give up on him and we know so many of you are not giving up on him either. Your love, prayers, and support mean everything to us and gives us the hope and comfort of knowing we are not walking this path alone.

With love and gratitude,

Deanna & David