Pomfret Family Fund
Donation protected
Zach is 30 years young. A husband and father to 2-year-old, Landon. This is his story.
Zach was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010. He had a seizure in his apartment and ended up going to the hospital and having another seizure just after arrival. An MRI revealed what was then diagnosed as a "fatty benign mass." Zach was placed on seizure medication and kept on 6 month MRI monitor. He went through 3 years of MRI's with no growth, not even a millimeter -Zach and Tiffany were even more convinced that it was just a fatty mass that had been there his whole life. Zach went about a year without an MRI, and in mid 2014, Zach herniated a disc in his back from golfing. When he visited his neurosurgeon to consult about the back surgery, they suggested they scan his head just because it hadn't been scanned in a while. After the scan, it was revealed that what was once thought of as a "fatty mass" had tripled in size and essentially went from the size of a nickel to the size of a golf ball. Zach received his back surgery in August of 2014. Zach and Tiffany decided to wait until after their wedding in December 2014 for him to get the brain surgery. Zach's first brain tumor resection was December 29, 2014, just 16 days after they were married. They rang in the New Year in the ICU but all things considered, they hoped they were somewhat out of the woods. Pathology diagnosed this tumor as a low-grade glioma grade 2. No chemotherapy or radiation was needed, and it was a "watch and wait" situation.
A diamond in the rough came in April 2015, when they welcomed their only son, Landon.
Zach received a follow up MRI at six months and revealed no regrowth. In December 2015, his next follow up MRI revealed regrowth of 20 mm in the same tumor cavity as before. They were disappointed but hopeful that with another surgery, this could be it. Zach's neurosurgeon said that this time likely would require some preventative treatment after the surgery [radiation and chemotherapy] as generally when a tumor recurs, there are cancerous cells present. Zach recieved his second brain tumor removal surgery May 23, 2016. Pathology on this tumor revealed a change in grade from low-grade glioma to grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. An astrocytoma is a star shaped tumor with finger-like projections that often make it hard for surgeons and doctors to pin point exactly where it is; although they are able to do gross mass resections, they almost certainly don't get everything.
Zach began his cancer treatments at Nebraska Cancer Specialists in July of 2016. He did 33 radiation treatments and high doses of Temozolamide, a chemotherapy pill often prescribed for anaplastic astrocytoma tumors. He only received one round of treatment as his doctors said this was the "standard of care" for this type of tumor and cancer. Zach had MRI scans every 3 months following the conclusion of treatment. Every scan was clear for almost the first year.
October 24, 2017, Zach had a one-year follow up scan which revealed regrowth in the tumor cavity and in addition, it revealed a large tumor growing on the corpus callosum, which is the nerve that divides the left and right brain hemispheres. Zach's neurosurgeon recommended another resection, however the tumor on the corpus callosum was inoperable, as it is just not an area that can ever be touched during an operation. They knew that following the surgery, more chemotherapy and radiation would be needed, especially to contain the inoperable portion. Zach and Tiffany were heartbroken but took this just like everything else, as something they could beat.
December 4, 2017, Zach had his third brain tumor resection. Everything went well in surgery and everything that looked like tumor that could be removed, was removed. The next day, their neurosurgeon came in to talk with them and it was revealed that pathology determined Zach's tumor has advanced to a grade IV glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. January 3rd, 2018 they will be traveling up to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to meet with neuro-oncology.
Zach’s story has affected me on a very personal level so I’m reaching out for your support in hopes to help relieve the financial stress of traveling, medical bills, etc. Not only is their son, Landon, a part of my daycare, but I lost my mom to brain cancer in February 2008. Our paths have crossed for reasons more than just child care and I want to help.
Zach and Tiffany, along with countless friends and family, are hopeful Zach will pull through this as he’s otherwise healthy and young. Please continue to keep Zach, Tiffany and Landon in your thoughts and prayers.
Zach was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010. He had a seizure in his apartment and ended up going to the hospital and having another seizure just after arrival. An MRI revealed what was then diagnosed as a "fatty benign mass." Zach was placed on seizure medication and kept on 6 month MRI monitor. He went through 3 years of MRI's with no growth, not even a millimeter -Zach and Tiffany were even more convinced that it was just a fatty mass that had been there his whole life. Zach went about a year without an MRI, and in mid 2014, Zach herniated a disc in his back from golfing. When he visited his neurosurgeon to consult about the back surgery, they suggested they scan his head just because it hadn't been scanned in a while. After the scan, it was revealed that what was once thought of as a "fatty mass" had tripled in size and essentially went from the size of a nickel to the size of a golf ball. Zach received his back surgery in August of 2014. Zach and Tiffany decided to wait until after their wedding in December 2014 for him to get the brain surgery. Zach's first brain tumor resection was December 29, 2014, just 16 days after they were married. They rang in the New Year in the ICU but all things considered, they hoped they were somewhat out of the woods. Pathology diagnosed this tumor as a low-grade glioma grade 2. No chemotherapy or radiation was needed, and it was a "watch and wait" situation.
A diamond in the rough came in April 2015, when they welcomed their only son, Landon.
Zach received a follow up MRI at six months and revealed no regrowth. In December 2015, his next follow up MRI revealed regrowth of 20 mm in the same tumor cavity as before. They were disappointed but hopeful that with another surgery, this could be it. Zach's neurosurgeon said that this time likely would require some preventative treatment after the surgery [radiation and chemotherapy] as generally when a tumor recurs, there are cancerous cells present. Zach recieved his second brain tumor removal surgery May 23, 2016. Pathology on this tumor revealed a change in grade from low-grade glioma to grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. An astrocytoma is a star shaped tumor with finger-like projections that often make it hard for surgeons and doctors to pin point exactly where it is; although they are able to do gross mass resections, they almost certainly don't get everything.
Zach began his cancer treatments at Nebraska Cancer Specialists in July of 2016. He did 33 radiation treatments and high doses of Temozolamide, a chemotherapy pill often prescribed for anaplastic astrocytoma tumors. He only received one round of treatment as his doctors said this was the "standard of care" for this type of tumor and cancer. Zach had MRI scans every 3 months following the conclusion of treatment. Every scan was clear for almost the first year.
October 24, 2017, Zach had a one-year follow up scan which revealed regrowth in the tumor cavity and in addition, it revealed a large tumor growing on the corpus callosum, which is the nerve that divides the left and right brain hemispheres. Zach's neurosurgeon recommended another resection, however the tumor on the corpus callosum was inoperable, as it is just not an area that can ever be touched during an operation. They knew that following the surgery, more chemotherapy and radiation would be needed, especially to contain the inoperable portion. Zach and Tiffany were heartbroken but took this just like everything else, as something they could beat.
December 4, 2017, Zach had his third brain tumor resection. Everything went well in surgery and everything that looked like tumor that could be removed, was removed. The next day, their neurosurgeon came in to talk with them and it was revealed that pathology determined Zach's tumor has advanced to a grade IV glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. January 3rd, 2018 they will be traveling up to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to meet with neuro-oncology.
Zach’s story has affected me on a very personal level so I’m reaching out for your support in hopes to help relieve the financial stress of traveling, medical bills, etc. Not only is their son, Landon, a part of my daycare, but I lost my mom to brain cancer in February 2008. Our paths have crossed for reasons more than just child care and I want to help.
Zach and Tiffany, along with countless friends and family, are hopeful Zach will pull through this as he’s otherwise healthy and young. Please continue to keep Zach, Tiffany and Landon in your thoughts and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristin Welch
Organizer
Bellevue, NE
Tiffany Pomfret
Beneficiary
