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.
My brain tumor experience is something I think about every day of my life, but the outside world likes to erase that and pretend it didn’t happen. It’s too “taboo” or “uncomfortable.” So, this year, on the 7th anniversary of my surgery, I want to talk about it.
In June 2018, Valentina was diagnosed with a pediatric low-grade glioma with a BRAF mutation. At the time, she was only one year old. Surgery was not an option, so her family had two choices for treatment—traditional chemotherapy or an experimental treatment suitable for her type of mutation.
Combining her love for reading and desire to give back to help kids with brain tumors like her, Zoe created Books 4 Brains to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research. Join her upcoming Books 4 Brains read-a-thon and support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's research funding efforts.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) proudly announces an infusion of $1 million to help researchers, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Drs. Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay and Rameen Beroukhim, launch a study into a novel therapeutic target and expand their research into overcoming treatment resistance and rebound growth.
Recently, the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act gained significant momentum in Congress when Charlie, a 12-year-old brain tumor survivor and advocate with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, testified to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee about the hurdles families face when seeking treatment for their child. Now, to see it become law requires your immediate action.
