Gunner was already such an old soul when he was diagnosed with a highly aggressive and fast-growing tumor known as DIPG shortly after his seventh birthday. He loved all things. He loved learning about the Presidents, the Titanic, New York City, trains, sharks, all kinds of animals, and so much more. His little hands always held and touched things as if they were the most important thing in the world. He enjoyed taking care of his dogs, bearded dragon, frog, and several turtles. He was the most relaxed and comfortable at the beach; it was as if the ocean spoke to him. He loved traveling and really enjoyed being at Walt Disney World. Gunner also had a mischievous side and loved being a jokester. It was never more evident than when he would slip into the boys' basketball locker room at Marshall County High School while his dad was leading an intense pregame pep talk with the team and rapidly flip the lights off and on. At the chorus of "GUNNNNEEERRRR," he would dance away in delight as his big laugh would echo through the gymnasium. He just had a way of lighting up a room and bringing so much joy and happiness to those around him. Gunner was born prematurely at 26 weeks and spent three months in NICU starting out his life, but he had such a determination to live. 

Prior to his diagnosis, Gunner’s parents noticed many symptoms, including frustration, paranoia, impulse behaviors, fit throwing, odd quirks, drooling, not eating, difficulty swallowing, tripping, unable to do things he once could do, staring off into space in the middle of conversations, night terrors, headaches, and high blood pressure, along with Gunner complaining about being hot all the time. He went from a very social boy that would laugh and interact to one that seemed very withdrawn. 

Gunner's diagnosis took a while, and it almost came too late as his parents were forced to watch him deteriorate. No matter what they did, they could not get his doctors to listen to them. Due to his premature birth and the slide in his issues, his development doctor chalked all his parents’ concerns up to autism, even though Gunner had never been diagnosed with autism. For months, Gunner’s parents begged his development doctor to order scans, but she stood her ground and refused based on her claim that Gunner did not need scans for autism. One evening after Gunner complained of yet another headache, his mom became so frustrated because she knew in her heart that something serious was wrong. The next morning, she faxed a list of Gunner’s symptoms to their family doctor, who she assumed had been kept up-to-date with all of Gunner’s records by his development doctor, but that was not the case. As soon as their family doctor saw the list, she immediately ordered a brain scan. 

After diagnosis, doctors told Gunner’s parents that they likely only had two more weeks with him. It was quite a blow to the heart for Gunner and his family. Gunner really struggled. He was scared and paranoid. He just wanted his mama and no one else. He didn't want to go to school. He was just so frustrated. 

Gunner immediately began a treatment protocol that successfully extended his life well beyond the estimated two weeks he was given at the time of his diagnosis. While his protocol was working, it didn’t come without unwanted side effects. Steroids vastly changed Gunner’s appearance, causing him to have chubby cheeks and a swollen middle section. His mom vividly remembers the day Gunner stood in front of the mirror, telling her, “This boy does not like that boy,” as he pointed to himself, then his reflection. He hated the way the steroids made him look and how they made him feel. 

Gunner valiantly battled for 11 months before gaining his angel wings on October 23, 2008, at the age of 8. He will never know the sheer number of lives he touched during his short life. He inspired hope. A hope that one-day childhood cancer will be defeated, and through his fight, Gunner taught those around him to be kind, love one another, smile frequently, and laugh often.

Funding for pediatric brain cancer research means everything. Without research, cancer treatments cannot move forward to give families a fighting chance. Families need better, more effective options than what was given to Gunner for his fight against DIPG.  

1 in 330 children in the U.S. will develop cancer by age 20.

On average, 15,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Cancer is the #1 killer of children by disease in the United States, yet it remains one of the most underfunded diseases in the world.

The Cure Starts Now focuses on the Homerun Cure™ for all cancers by concentrating our research funding efforts on the deadliest forms of cancer. With over $15 million in pediatric brain cancer research funding to date, you can rest assured that 100% of your donation, after credit card processing, will go directly to innovative research. Please join us in funding crucial research to save our youngest warriors.