Gabriel Richard Brain Cancer Fund

Gabriel Richard is my eight year old cousin who has struggled with brain cancer since the age of three. After years of doctor appointments and misdiagnosis it was finally Children’s Hospital of Michigan that was able to correctly diagnose him at age five with Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma brain cancer, stage II.  The tumor is attached to his right optic never and hypothalamus gland.   Gabe has undergone several brain surgeries to remove parts of the grape size tumor however, his neurosurgeon could not remove the roots allowing the tumor to regrow.  Gabriel’s hypothalamus has been destroyed from the tumor causing him to have the inability to regulate his heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and cortisol levels.  Gabe’s body cannot make an immune system without pills and he runs the risk of not continuing to grow without hormone replacement.  Anything stressful, like breaking a bone, can put Gabe into cardiac arrest.   Every day Gabe takes 23 pills to replace what the tumor destroyed. Gabriel’s oncologist recommend a treatment plan that included a minimum of 74 weeks of chemo.  There is no remission for his cancer, it is chronic. There is no cure.  A “success” is that the tumor will stop growing however, Gabe has a 60% chance of the cancer returning before he is 18. Gabe began chemotherapy at age five. It has been three years since his diagnosis and Gabe is on his fifth CONSECUTIVE round trying more than eight different chemotherapy drugs. At one point he was taking four drugs at once. After three full years of chemotherapy Gabe's tumor continues to grow. It never stopped growing. Gabriel's side effects are common, vomiting, hair loss, appetite loss, neuropathy in the lower part of his body and hands.   He is unable to run, and walking from the car to inside the house, or climbing a set of stairs makes him lose his breath, and have pain and weakness in his legs.  Gabe’s emotional health has suffered as well.  He is all too aware that he could die from his tumor.  He has asked his mother “Why did Jesus put a tumor in my brain?” and after a family pet died he cried to her saying “I don’t want to go and be with Jesus I want to stay with you and Daddy and my sister.” Although the majority of the time Gabe is a trooper being poked multiple times a week and taking 23 pills a day he still has nightly nightmares about dying. Gabe tries to be in good spirits but after three years of hospitals and chemotherapy he just wants to be a kid who can run, climb and play. He wants to not feel exhausted all the time, and enjoy life. To see his entire story please go to his website at gabesjourney.com where you can read everything Gabe has gone through. His website also has a link to his FaceBook page which is updated several times a week. Funds donated to his campaign will help pay for monthly trips to Georgia (from Michigan) for a clinical trial in addition to medical bills. I and Gabriel's family cannot even express our gratitude for your support. His family is struggling financially and emotionally.