The words childhood and cancer should never exist next to each other.

Our original family summer plans for 2024 consisted of balancing all things fun while welcoming a new baby to the family.

The weekend of June 7th Wyatt came down with a fever and other flu like symptoms that passed within a day and a half. However, the day after his fever broke, he had a rash all over his back and neck so we took him into his pediatrician the following Monday who deemed it a common kid virus, Roseola.

Two days later he began complaining about neck pain and by the end of the week he couldn’t stand up straight, lift or turn his head, and was in a lot of pain.

The next few weeks consisted of doctor appointments one after another trying to find out what was wrong with Wyatt and figure out a solution. Watching him suffer was terrible. At the end of those few weeks on June 29th, we welcomed Wyatt and Rhenn’s new baby sister Laynee to our family.

We continued to search for a solution for Wyatt and after chiropractor adjustments, deep tissue massages, ice, heat, Tylenol, Ibeuprofin, CT scans, blood work, and endless examinations by medical professionals we thought we were headed in the right direction when Wyatt spent two and a half days in the University of Iowa hospital for what they deemed “subluxation and muscle spasms” a partial or incomplete dislocation of the joint and muscle spasms. They had him on a treatment program and prescription for physical therapy and we were hopeful.

However, the day Dustin and Wyatt returned home from the hospital he began complaining about the same pain and his posture declined back to his original crumpled stature.

On July 17th, we were back at the University of Iowa Hospital for follow up but this time requested an MRI. That MRI put our world upside down in an instant. They discovered a tumor in his neck from his C2 vertebrae to his T3 vertebrae. It was causing blockage of his spinal fluid flow, putting pressure on his brain.

He underwent brain surgery a day later to put in a shunt to relieve the pressure on his brain. A couple days to recover and he got to come home for a week to rest up for his next surgery. This was the scary one. At this point we were told the tumor was likely cancerous and his surgery was to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible. Because of the location of his tumor their concerns were to try to avoid any slight mishap in procedure that could leave him permanently without some of his basic motor functions, like breathing, use of limbs, etc.

The surgery was a success. They were able to remove about 40% of the tumor and he miraculously was discharged from the hospital just 6 days after his surgery date. He will be in a custom-fitted brace for 3 to 4 months to ensure his body heals in an ideal posture.

During his six days post-surgery, the pediatric oncologist confirmed our worst fears. CANCER. Those words hit hard and they hit somewhere that doesn’t heal easily or maybe ever. They put an ear-piercing ringing in your head that never goes away.

In terms of types of cancer, Wyatt lucked out. He has a rare form of cancer abbreviated DLGNT and it’s treatable.

He will undergo surgery to put in a port for his chemo treatments and receive his first low dose chemo on August 22.

He’s so looking forward to starting kindergarten just a few days after that and we really hope he’ll be able to attend as much of it as possible and his chemo symptoms will be as mild as they can be and more importantly, successful.

The outpouring of love and support to our little family these past couple months has been overwhelmingly incredible and probably the reason we’re still functioning. The hundreds, maybe thousands of prayers said and fasting performed on his behalf is the reason he’s a walking miracle thus far.

This account was created out of the suggestions of great people in our lives that want to help. We have absolutely no idea the financial implications we may face but we plan to use any funds raised to cover Wyatt’s medical treatments, gas, food, or any other logistical costs that arise on this journey while also trying to make some positive memories with our family during this time. If you prefer to Venmo instead, Dustin’s account is @Dustin-Bashaw.

We are so incredibly appreciative of anyone and everyone who has taken a seat on our detour in life that quickly turned into a road trip.

With Sincere Appreciation,

The Bashaw Family,

Dustin, Kaylee, Wyatt (5), Rhenn (3), Laynee (1.5 months)