Not The Life of Typical Terrible Two’s…….

At age 2 a child should be running wild after discovering their legs move faster than a crawling pace, but instead Mason spends his time in and out of hospital beds. This small but courageous fighter is currently taking on the biggest battle of his life and you would never know by that smile on his face. Mason was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in October 2013.

It began one day when Mason fell off a bike and never recovered. 3 days later his family noticed that Mason didn’t want to walk. His mother took him to the doctor and he was sent to ER where they x-ray showed an anomaly. A decision to do a CAT scan showed a tumor stretching from his diaphragm to sternum and wrapping itself around his spine. The cancer was nearly in his bone marrow and if it had been diagnosed a week later, the doctors said they wouldn’t have been able to treat him. The family was in the ER for about six hours which felt like days until they found out something was really wrong and life threatening. From that moment their lives changed forever…….

Since his diagnoses, Mason has completed 5 chemotherapy sessions and just received surgery to remove the tumor wrapped along his spine. Mason will spend 6 weeks in UCSF for a stem cell transplant followed by several additional months of chemotherapy and radiation.

“We have received assistance and support from the KRM foundation through visits, emotional support, and gifts for Mason and the family. Their touch has provided us with an extended hand of comfort and acknowledgement of the most difficult period in our life, dealing with our son’s diagnosis and treatment of stage four cancer.” – Mother of Mason

 Unfortunately Mason’s illness is not the first crisis the family has faced together. A daughter, born in 2009, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  When Mason was born, his parents were terrified for the first year of his life and relieved to make it past the SIDS stage only to find themselves face to face with another nightmare- Childhood Cancer.

 ??????????????????????????????? MasonKelly Markers2 photo 2 photo2 Pre-Surgery3 4-22-14

Striking Out Kids’ Cancers!

Our gratitude is overflowing for everyone who joined us to Strike Out Kids’ Cancers!

Donations made through this event will provide financial, emotional, and educational support to children with cancer and their families as we strive for no child or family to navigate this journey alone. Together, we will continue to Strike Out Kids’ Cancers!

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

This September, we unite for one purpose: to bring hope, strength, and healing to children battling cancer and their families. Every 3 minutes, a family’s life is turned upside down when they hear the four devastating words, “Your child has cancer.” At Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, we believe that every child deserves a fighting chance – and you can help make that a reality.

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Join the Keaton’s Family as we focus on the realities of childhood cancer, highlight stories of local families, and advocate for more pediatric cancer research, all while giving HOPE, STRENGTH, and HEALING to our families.

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