Brody's DREAM List

On August 30, 2013, Brody had routine gall bladder surgery. During surgery the doctor found some suspicious white spots in his abdomen. The next day, he had a CT scan and then was sent to St. Mary's Hospital. He had a PET scan on Sept. 3 and they were told it was cancer on Sept. 4, but they were not sure what type. On Sept. 11, Brody was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT), a rare form of cancer. The next day, he was in surgery to have a chemo port placed in his upper chest and his first round of chemo started on Sept. 13. Shortly after, Brody and his mother, Jill, went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas where Brody had surgery to remove numerous abdominal tumors. In the last year he has had radiation until his body starting rejecting and more chemo than one can imagine. He has lost considerable weight in the last month in a half. The beginning of 2015 would bring us news of cancer being found in his lung. This is an aggressive cancer and we are unsure how much time we have left with Brody. Brody recently shared his "DREAM List" as he didn't like the sound of a bucket list. The list is as follows:

BRODY'S DREAM LIST

* Go on an Amtrak train ride out East

* Own a fully restored 1967-1969 baby blue Volkswagen Beetle

* Go to the Smithsonian Museum

* Would like a pizza oven for my man cave

* A butter warmer dispenser for my popcorn machine in my man cave

* A big fat English Bulldog to help with my anxiety DONE

* Own an OLIVER tractor, small lawn mover style

* Finish basement with a bathroom and handicapped accessible stairs so I can live down there forever

* Visit the main facility of Apple in California with Grandma Mary Samson Matthys

* Go to the GOOGLE headquarters

* An external hard drive for my Mac with tons of gigabites DONE

* A very comfy area to sit or lay outside where bugs can't get me but still I can feel the fresh air and breeze with shade

* Have a virtual reality headset from samsung gear so I can travel but don't have to leave the house

* Go visit Kacie in Ohio

* Go to Grandma Ruth's bakery (Kacie's grandma)

* Meet the Duck Dynasty family and share a drink from Uncle Si's ice tea from his personal jug. Make a duck call with them.

* Have our house paid off or at least have it put in Hannah's and my name so that we both will always have a place of our own, and that no one can take it away from us.

* Go to an identical twin convention with Jody Smith-Schlapper and Jill Smith-Schlpaper.

Brody realizes that some of his "dreams" are big. But he is a 13 year old boy with an unfair expiration date. So I say "go BIG" especially when it comes to your dreams!