Gavin was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma Group 3 on June 9th, 2022. He was admitted same day to Cincinnati Childrens hospital and had brain surgery that following Monday to have the tumor removed. After this brain surgery, the brain fluids wouldn't self correct and Gavin had to have another surgery to have a shunt placed from his brain down into his stomach. Once we finally got home we received a call from our Oncologist that Proton radiation needed to be started immediately and then shortly thereafter we would need to start intensive chemo. We went through 30 fractions (6 weeks) for proton radiation at the Cincinnati Childrens liberty location. Gavin did well during radiation and even started gaining strength back to learn how to walk again with a walker and was making big progress with physical and occupational therapy. Once we went home and recovery was done from the radiation, the doctors wanted to start his intensive chemo right away based on his scans and progression. The intensive chemo really caused a lot of complications. There were several infections, numbers and counts dropped, several platelet and blood transfusions were needed. Each round of chemo caused more and more trouble and difficulties. Gavin fought through all of it. We hardly went home since he started his first round of chemo. By the time his numbers were back up to normal they were ready for the next round of chemo. Gavin had many infections in the process even including having to have his port removed and a new port placed on the other side of his chest. Gavin made it through 4 of his 6 rounds of chemo until he landed in ICU on a ventilator. During his time in ICU he ended up having a large brain bleed and had a stroke. He had to have another surgery on his head called a bone flap where part of the right side of his skull was removed to allow the brain to swell without it crushing itself from swelling. Then after some time on the ventilator and the swelling going back down he had to have surgery again to put the part of the skull back on with plates and screws in place. Gavin overcame all this and even was able to come off of the ventilator after some time of fighting. At that point in time, we decided that intensive chemo was doing more harm than good for our son and decided he could not handle another round of chemo. He had done 4 of the 6 rounds and each round become more dangerous and riskier and almost took him from us. At this time Gavin had lost his ability to walk, use his hands independently for many things like he was use to doing. The doctors tried rehab but he was too far behind and rehab told us they had to discharge us because he no longer qualified because he was not at the strength they wanted him at. We waited on trials to become available and thought after a while we were finally getting the opportunity for the vaccine trial. But then the doctors called us back after initially telling us we got a spot that they had actually made a mistake. At this time they said it was best to go through a second round of proton radiation with 10 fractions (2 weeks) to try and prolong his life because his cancer was rapidly spreading in his spine and brain.  With no options we went with that. The risks of second round of radiation were that 1 out of 10 children that go through a second round end up becoming blind. This was devastating news because Gavin had lost everything except for his hearing and vision. We decided to take the risk and went through with the second round. At this time we have Gavin at home trying to keep him comfortable. Make memories where possible. Get smiles when we can. Gavin is still currently back on the waitlist for the vaccine trial but we aren't sure if he will get to try it. 

Gavin is by far a fighter. He overcame so much and fought so hard. He still keeps a smile on his face. His dream growing up was to become a professional Soccer player for the German National Mens soccer team. His love for Soccer and sports in general meant so much to him. He loved his local Cincinnati teams (Cincinnati Bengals, FC Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Reds) 

 He was the most outgoing child. He'd be the first in the pool during summer months and the last to get out of the pool. He loved joking around and making everyone laugh and smile. He was also a big time video gamer. Fortnite was his game. Prior to diagnosis he had just got a brand new gaming PC along with streaming equipment.  No child and no family should ever have to go through these struggles and this pain.  Gavin had such of a bright future ahead of him and cancer took that from him.

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