Support Zachary's Fight Against Brain Tumors

My name is Carole, and I’m Zachary’s mother. My son has a non curable disease called Neurofibromatosis I, and he was diagnosed with this disease when he was 2 1/2. He is now 16, and due to some issues that have arisen with his disease, his PC referred us to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital a little over a month ago.

Neurofibromatosis I is a disease where tumors grow internally and externally all throughout your nervous system. This disease can cause learning disabilities, blindness, deafness, and 20% of the patients develop brain tumors. Of the 20% that develop brain tumors, 80% of the tumors are benign, the other 20% are malignant. The percentage of patients that develop brain tumors is very small. I wanted to give you the statistics that my sons Neurologist gave us in order to put what I’m going to tell you into perspective.

We have been traveling back and forth from the Tucson area up to Phoenix for the last several weeks in order for my son to see numerous specialists, have multiple tests run, and imaging.

Through all of the appointments and an MRI that was conducted last Thursday, we received a devastating call on Friday morning, September 20th from his Neurologist.

We had just left the Phoenix area and were only on the road for 20 minutes when I received the phone call that would devastate me as a mother, leave me with a million emotions going through my mind, I was numb, in denial, scared like I have never been before in my life. Zachary’s doctor proceeded to tell me that he reviewed the results of his MRI that was literally done less than 24 hours prior, and that my son has 4 brain tumors.

He has a tumor on his optic nerve, two smaller tumors, and a large tumor in the portion of the brain that’s hard to get to. He advised me that he has referred us to Hematology and Oncology at the Children’s Hospital. I was crying profusely while trying to drive, and as I glance in my rear view mirror, I see my baby with this blank stare upon his face, and tears rolling down his face. I gently reached my hand into the backseat, grabbed his hand, and assured him that everything is going to be ok. I don’t know what the outcome is going to be, I do however, have faith in God that he’s going to get us through this. I have to believe that with all of my might.

As soon as I hung up from his Neurologist, I immediately called the Oncology department in order to get an appointment scheduled, and we’re scheduled to go back up to Phoenix on October 3rd.

With Zach’s NF, there’s also other health issues that he’s currently dealing with. We saw a Nephrologist last week, and he needs a sonogram of his kidneys and bladder, he was put on blood pressure medication as he has very high blood pressure, and he needs to see a Cardiologist due to chest pain he’s been having and his high BP.

Due to all of the medical appointments that he’s going to be having, all of the trips that we will be making from Tucson to Phoenix, I’m asking for any help that you can give. We need prayers more than anything right now, but I also have to be able to get my baby to and from his appointments, gas, lodging, prescriptions, and copays for all of his upcoming appointments.

Anything that you can do to help is greatly appreciated, and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult journey that we are embarking upon. This is a journey that I never wanted or thought I would be on.

God bless all of you, and thank you for taking the time to read our story.