The following letter was written by Nathan’s dad, an Internal Scientific Advisor at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation:
Your generosity this holiday season has the power to change kids’ lives, just as it changed the life of my son, Nathan.
When Nathan was four years old, he was diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain tumor. As a scientist who works in drug development, I was shocked by the limited treatment options available. He faced the same chemotherapy treatments that had been used for decades… since before I was even born. After nearly four years of stability, his tumor started growing again. This time, though, there was another option.
In 2018, Nathan became the first child in the world to enroll in the Phase I clinical trial for what would become Tovorafenib/DAY101. Because of the support of Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation donors, that trial happened, DAY101 is closer than ever to FDA approval, and Nathan is now starting his freshman year of high school.
As Nathan’s dad, I am forever grateful to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation community. And as one of the foundation’s internal research advisors, I also see there’s so much more work we can do right now for children with brain tumors. Work that can’t happen if researchers don’t have funding.
That’s why I’m asking you to donate today.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation recently approved funding for several new research grants, but our Research Advisory Network has reviewed even more promising science that deserves funding – research that will accelerate the discovery of better ways to treat and diagnose all pediatric brain tumors.
Children like Nathan need your help in meeting this urgent need. So, please, don’t wait. Donate today.
When you donate to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation this holiday season, your generous support of cutting-edge research, family support resources, and critical public policy will accelerate treatment breakthroughs and change kids' lives. Donate today to create a brighter tomorrow for children like Nathan and their families.
Alyssa was a bright and energetic child, excited to start sixth grade. She had just switched schools, and the upcoming year held the promise of new friendships and opportunities. But soon, Alyssa's journey took an unexpected and heart-wrenching turn.
On March 7, 2023, 2-year-old Trey was rushed to the ER with excessive vomiting and extreme fatigue. “That’s what drove us to the emergency room that night,” explains Trey’s mother, Ebony. “But we had no idea the magnitude of the diagnosis [we would receive].”
On January 25 of this year, two-year-old Ian’s mom, Yaimary, noticed her son walking with his head consistently tilted at an odd angle. Concerned, she scheduled an appointment with his pediatrician that same day. After a thorough examination, the pediatrician sent Ian and his mom directly to the emergency room where a CT scan revealed a mass at the back of the child’s head.
“This report lays groundwork to improve the experience of people living with this disease,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, and a member of PBTF’s Board of Directors. “I believe it shines a much-needed spotlight on the wide-ranging and extensive challenges that this type of tumor causes for patients and their families, and I am hopeful that this moment is a significant milestone for this community.”
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation today announced the appointment of Ursula Burns and Jordan Wertlieb as inaugural members of the organization’s new Advisory Board. Burns and Wertlieb offer their exceptional business acumen and experience to PBTF, the largest patient advocacy funder of pediatric brain tumor research.
