Read and Tiffany’s lives forever changed in December when they heard what no parent wants to hear, “Your child has cancer.” What started with what appeared to be a cold turned out to be a large mass from lymphoma in Stark’s chest, which was pushing on his heart and lungs. Due to the critical state he was in, Stark was placed on ECMO and dialysis in hope to allow his body to heal and fight the cancer.

Our small, but mighty, Stark powered through and the mass has shrunk.

Stark stayed around 2 months at Riley’s Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy and rehab, where he relearned to sit, eat, and play. In early February, Stark was released home to continue chemotherapy weekly here in South Bend. He will receive treatments weekly for chemotherapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.

Stark has been diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma caused sadly by a genetic condition which has predisposed him to cancers, CMMRD.

Stark’s battle has just begun and will most definitely be a marathon, not a sprint. He will be under constant treatment for his current cancer for months and then surveillance multiple times a year to monitor for recurrences of childhood and adult cancers due to his genetic condition.

His loving parents have been by his side through this entire journey due to the wonderful help from family, friends, and jobs.

Medical bills are beginning to stack up and have already reached over $20,000 just for his first hospital stay. Read will soon restart work while Tiffany stays home to help care for Stark as chemotherapy does have some setbacks. Read had recently returned to work and Tiffany will be shortly. Both parents will have to adjust schedules as he will continue to have multiple procedures, chemotherapies, and therapy appointments.

Any help financially, spiritually, and physically would be appreciated as they care for Stark and his older brother Odin during this journey.