Our 7 year old son, Waylan started having crippling migraines around 5 years old. He has always been a high energy, hyperactive child and to see how the migraines made him so sick deeply concerned us. At the time his pediatrician believed his migraines might be due to stress or even ADHD. Fast forward to October of 2022 and after moving, Waylan began having vertigo along with his migraines. His new pediatrician was concerned and immediately referred him to a neurologist for an MRI.

March 9th, 2023 Waylan had an MRI of his brain and within 8 minutes the radiologist came out to us that they found something and the MRI would need to be completed with contrast. By that evening we were called and told that Waylan had a brain tumor. It was 2 1/2 inches and in his right parietal region.  He was then immediately referred to a neurosurgeon at Cook Children’s in Fort Worth to be scheduled to have his tumor removed.

April 6th Waylan had a craniotomy and they believe they were able to remove all of his tumor. While in the beginning all of his doctors believed his tumor was benign, after surgery his neurosurgeon at Cook Childrens informed us that his tumor was nothing like what they expected and we would have to wait on pathology results to know for sure. 

A couple of weeks later we were called and told by his oncologist in Fort Worth that his tumor did now appear to be malignant and his pathology results were being sent to Cincinnati to be tested at the molecular level. It took an excruciating month of waiting, but in early May they received the news that Waylan has CNS Neuroblastoma (FOX R2) Activated. It is a very rare embryonal brain tumor, but overall has a good prognosis with surgery and treatment. On May 24th Waylan and I (his mom-Calie), headed to Dallas so he could complete 6 consecutive weeks-Monday-Friday-of Proton Radiation Therapy in Irving, TX. The first 3 weeks they completed radiation to his entire brain and spine, and his final 3 weeks they did booster radiation treatments to his tumor location.

Waylan is completed proton radiation on July 6th, and he will soon begin 5-6 months of chemotherapy.

Waylan may have cancer, but he is so strong and so brave. He and his family are blown away by the love, support and prayers they can feel surrounding them as they face this battle. They thank each and every one of you from the bottom of their hearts for being a part of Waylan’s Fight and supporting them in so many ways!! 

Thank you for choosing to donate to The Cure Starts Now Foundation. 100% of this donation, after credit card processing fees, goes directly towards research to find the homerun cure for cancer starting with pediatric brain cancer research.

If you would like to make a donation by mail please send a check to:  The Cure Starts Now Foundation; 10280 Chester Road; Cincinnati, OH 45215 and put the child's name in the memo.

The family receives notification of all donations made to this tribute fund automatically.