Charles Cox

Welcome to our CaringBridge site. We've created it to keep friends and family updated on Spencer's progress. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.

A little about what has happened- Spencer had a neck ache which progressed into a headache for a couple of weeks at the end of March and into April. He is a migraine sufferer and as an athlete who plays rugby on his college team so we assumed this was not anything major. On Saturday morning, April 16th, Spencer was on his way to an early Rugby game in Rutland VT and threw up and was disoriented on the bus ride. His coach took him to Rutland Regional Hospital immediately to assess his condition. The ER room did a CAT scan and saw the tumor in his brain. They airlifted him to Burlington University of Vermont Medical Center where they has a neurology department. That afternoon they put in an external vent to elevate the pressure in his brain. He was suffering from a severe case of hydrocephalus. After a more detailed MRI was completed they transferred him Boston Children's Hospital. 
At Children's he had a craniotomy and more tests which confirmed that he has a Metastatic Pineoblastoma in the middle of his brain. They placed a shunt on his birthday (Happy Birthday! You can go home!). 

He has started Proton therapy and chemo therapy (at MGH) daily which will last for six weeks. Then have a break to recover a little before he will have 6 rounds of chemotherapy at Dana Farber in partnership with Children's Hospital. 

It has been a long month but I have a strong boy and am sure he will persevere. 

I want to thank everyone who has called and all the outpouring of support and help with Austin and Isabella. I am truly blessed to live in such a caring community.