Support Jayden in his fight against DIPG

Support Jayden in his fight against DIPG

My name is Judith and I am raising funds for the Sritharan family as their son Jayden battles diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Jayden is a kind, caring and empathetic 10 year old boy living in Burnaby, With his mom Krisha Dad Sritharan,sister Amily and his baby brother Shan.He is a beautiful soul who feels the emotions of those around him and always wants to help. He loves music and art and wants to learn the clarinet (among other instruments). He loves playing netball and going on adventures with his family. Up until just over a month ago he was happy and healthy and living life to the fullest.

On Monday 9th January 2023 Jayden mom Krisha noticed that Jayden eyes were making irregular movements, flickering from left to right constantly without Jayden being to control it. Obviously feeling concerned, Krisha took him to the local hospital where, after waiting for 6 hours to be seen he was dismissed. The doctor on duty performed an eye test where Jayden had lost a substantial amount of vision in his left eye which returned a short time later, Krisha was told it was nystagmus and that the symptoms had resolved themselves, but to go and get an MRI if she was worried. They did not provide a referral for an MRI.

On Tuesday 10th January Krisha spoke to their family doctor who gave her a referral for an MRI. Krisha spent the next day or so calling various imaging practices to try and book an MRI but nothing was available. By Thursday 19th January Jayden symptoms had worsened and he was now getting frequent nosebleeds, bumping into things and tripping over. Deeply concerned by now Krisha drove Jayden to Perth Children’s Hospital in Perth. The staff at PCH took Jayden symptoms seriously and after a thorough investigation, ordered an MRI for the following Monday, the 23th January

On Tuesday 31st January 2023 Krisha and her husband Sritharan received news that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Jayden has Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). This is an extremely aggressive type of brain tumour, which due to the level of aggressiveness and the ability of it to invade neighbouring tissues, is considered an incurable, inoperable brain tumour that has a 0% survival rate. The average overall survival rate for people with DIPG is less than a year. This tumour makes its home in an area of the brainstem called the pons, which controls many of the body's most vital functions.

Jayden MRI shows the mass is attached to his brain stem that will grow rapidly, eventually squeezing and damaging his healthy brain tissue. Surgery is not an option for patients with DIPG due to its location in the brain stem. Jayden will start daily radiation therapy in the coming weeks to try and shrink the tumour and ease his symptoms. This will continue for 6 weeks and while it is not a cure, it may offer some temporary respite. Unfortunately due to the nature of this tumour, Jayden health and ability to function will decline and this awful cancer will take him from us long before he is due.

No family can be prepared for such a diagnosis and Krisha and Sritharan lives have been turned upside down. For the coming weeks and months Krisha and Sritharan as well Jayden little brother and sister will be living at the children’s hospital while Jayden receives medical care to keep him comfortable and to ease her symptoms.

As Sritharan is the sole provider for his household this means that there will be no income, and unfortunately the bills and treatment funds do not stop coming 

We are asking for financial support to enable this amazing family to stay together and spend every single moment together and not miss a thing. Our hope is that Jayden family can enjoy every second of time they have without the added burden of financial stress.

In the end, time is all we really have.

Our darling Jayden and his loving family, we all love you so very much and we will wrap you in our arms and carry you through this.