Help 12-Year-Old Zachary Fight a Brain Tumor

Saturday night our family received devastating news. My great-nephew, Zachary, had been being treated for bronchitis when he began complaining of dizziness and double vision. My sister took him to be evaluated at St. Luke’s – Warren Campus. After preliminary testing, doctors quickly transferred Zachary to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for further evaluation.

There, doctors discovered a 2 cm brain tumor embedded in the tissue of his left ventricle.

Zachary is scheduled to undergo a craniotomy on March 10, 2026, in hopes that surgeons will be able to remove the tumor completely. If they are unable to remove the entire tumor, they will remove a portion for biopsy so doctors can determine the next steps in his treatment.

Zachary is just 12 years old and one of the sweetest kids you could ever meet. He loves giving hugs and telling his family members over and over how much he loves them. He enjoys roller skating, jumping on his trampoline, and playing video games.

Zachary has a younger brother, Zane, and the two are inseparable. Being apart during this difficult time has been incredibly hard for them.

Their grandparents are raising both boys after already raising nine children of their own. They are the type of people who are always the first to help someone in need. They rescue animals, care deeply for their community, and currently have five dogs and several other little critters that they lovingly look after.

I truly cannot think of a family more deserving of help than they are.

They do not know that I am setting this fundraiser up. My hope is that we can ease some of the financial burden so the boys’ grandfather—the main provider of the household—can take time away from work and be by Zachary’s side during this critical time.

Right now, we don’t know exactly what the road ahead will look like. We are leaning on God for strength, asking for prayers, and trying to remain positive while taking things one day at a time.

Any support—whether through donations, prayers, or sharing this fundraiser—would mean the world to our family. The funds raised will help allow both grandparents to remain at Zachary’s bedside throughout this journey while I help care for his brother Zane.

Thank you for keeping Zachary in your thoughts and prayers.