Dakota Cousineau Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
Please help us with Dakota's second fight with cancer. His family is raising money for the cost of proton therapy in lieu of traditional radiation- paying out of pocket after being repeatably denied coverage by Aetna. Dakota deserves the best chance at beating cancer a second time and not causing more damage to his face (optical nerve, brain, and the healthy tissue). Payment is due when he begins proton therapy this week.
Dakota Cousineau a childhood cancer survivor, is fighting a different cancer, Clear Cell Sarcoma- in his sinus and cheek. He has had two surgeries to remove the tumor and almost 4 weeks of traditional radiation. Aetna has strung out his claims and appeals for the targeted proton therapy treatment recommended by his doctors. Doctors from Ohio State James Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and the University of Cincinnati Proton Center have all agreed this is the best treatment for Dakota. Doctors recommend proton therapy for the head and neck, which destroys cancer cells but causes less damage than traditional radiation to surrounding healthy tissue. Traditional radiation puts his healthy tissue at risk for severe damage and possibly more cancer.
The Ohio State team that recently performed his surgeries are using Dakota's medical information - tumor and mapped genome to research in further helping other children with Ewing Sarcoma. Cincinnati children's hospital has advocated for him to receive the proton therapy due to his unique case.
Dakota Cousineau a childhood cancer survivor, is fighting a different cancer, Clear Cell Sarcoma- in his sinus and cheek. He has had two surgeries to remove the tumor and almost 4 weeks of traditional radiation. Aetna has strung out his claims and appeals for the targeted proton therapy treatment recommended by his doctors. Doctors from Ohio State James Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and the University of Cincinnati Proton Center have all agreed this is the best treatment for Dakota. Doctors recommend proton therapy for the head and neck, which destroys cancer cells but causes less damage than traditional radiation to surrounding healthy tissue. Traditional radiation puts his healthy tissue at risk for severe damage and possibly more cancer.
The Ohio State team that recently performed his surgeries are using Dakota's medical information - tumor and mapped genome to research in further helping other children with Ewing Sarcoma. Cincinnati children's hospital has advocated for him to receive the proton therapy due to his unique case.
Dakota's story from his first fight with cancer: At 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in his upper arm. The survival rates were low. The chemotherapy included a combination of drugs, one called the Red Devil, and we almost lost him during the first round. Blood transfusions helped him through this first major setback. When he would max out a drug, they would switch him to another one. When he was just starting to feel better from a round of chemo, it would start again. Dakota's hair started falling out, and his two brothers Luke and Lance went with him on a trip to the barber to get a buzz cut together. He had a port to his heart for administering the drugs and Dakota's fun time playing shark in the bathtub was spoiled by mom telling him he had to keep it dry. He had 9 weeks of radiation and a white peach fuzz grew on his head. He let everyone rub his head for good luck. At the end of radiation, our family felt blessed because there was a good chance Dakota's arm would grow close to same length of his healthy arm- not the size of a two year old with an adult size hand.
Luke introduced Dakota to his beloved NinjaTurtles cartoon and from that day forward they all took on a turtle nickname. They played Ninjas and watched the same show many times over, helping Dakota through many days hooked to an IV pole. They stayed by his side through weeks of nausea and chemo.
Dakota won his first fight with cancer but it still was a long road to recovery. At 5 years old, Dakota started maintenance for Ewings Sarcoma. The Red Devil raised its destructive head with the threat of heart complications. Still fighting the side effects of chemo and radiation at 8 years old, he became a Make-A-Wish kid and was granted his wish. Dakota shared his wish with his brothers and sisters and chose for all of them to experience a rainforest, see volcanoes, and swim with dolphins in Hawaii. Dakota especially added the dolphin experience just for his sisters: Sierra and Cheyenne. They loved dolphins and he loved them.
About 10 years after treatments, Dakota finally entered a solid remission. He embraced life with extreme passion and intensity. Dakota competed in boys gymnastics and club hockey until school sports where he excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field. He embraced every kind of challenge that came before him. Dakota won many sports awards and titles, was a captain of his track and field team, and co-captain of his football team. Dakota played varsity sports all four years of high school, without most people ever knowing his arm's muscular system didn’t grow to the size of the healthy arm. It was considerably damaged from radiation therapy and friends called him Popeye.
While many other cancer survivors were suffering heart complications, Dakota's athletic abilities were a testament to the doctors and the faith and prayers that everyone had for him. His oncologist used photos of him for national conferences of childhood cancers to showcase the success in not damaging his growth plates and his healthy active lifestyle. It was an accomplishment of Dakota's dedication to be as fit as possible and the skill of his radiologist at the Medical College of Ohio. Dakota was exceptional in his studies and loved by every teacher for his intellect coupled with his playfully mischievous antics and good-hearted nature. Along with his friends, they would play jokes with those that didn't know, telling them he'd been bit by a shark. An indication of his likable personality, Dakota was his class vice president and voted to prom court.
Dakota is a newly married young man with his whole life ahead of him and dreams to have a family with his wife Jessy. Dakota is appreciated by his employers and loved by his coworkers and they have high hopes for him in their company.
As a childhood cancer survivor, accomplished athlete, and all around good guy - Dakota is a fighter. He is tough but presently in a lot of pain from the traditional radiation. Everyone who knows Dakota cannot help but laugh at his jokes and quirky humor. He is loved by all those that know him and we gratefully appreciate any donations that you are willing to share for him. Thank you for your donations and especially for your prayers. This page is setup and managed by Dakota's 4 siblings.
Aetna has already lost a major case for denying this same treatment to another that battled a head/neck cancer, but is still practicing their same tricks in denying coverage of Dakota's proton therapy treatment. We have had enough and are switching him to the treatment that will give him the best chance at beating this cancer and with the least amount of damage to his face, eyesight, and brain so that he can live the life that he already fought cancer once to live. Had Dakota been covered with a different insurance company such as BCBS, been on Medicaid, been under 21 or over 65 - he'd be receiving proton therapy paid for by insurance. The 3 weeks of fighting with the insurance company has been disappointing and a shame. Someone who fought and survived cancer as a small child should not have to battle the insurance company, to pay for the right treatment when fighting cancer again as a young adult.
Luke introduced Dakota to his beloved NinjaTurtles cartoon and from that day forward they all took on a turtle nickname. They played Ninjas and watched the same show many times over, helping Dakota through many days hooked to an IV pole. They stayed by his side through weeks of nausea and chemo.
Dakota won his first fight with cancer but it still was a long road to recovery. At 5 years old, Dakota started maintenance for Ewings Sarcoma. The Red Devil raised its destructive head with the threat of heart complications. Still fighting the side effects of chemo and radiation at 8 years old, he became a Make-A-Wish kid and was granted his wish. Dakota shared his wish with his brothers and sisters and chose for all of them to experience a rainforest, see volcanoes, and swim with dolphins in Hawaii. Dakota especially added the dolphin experience just for his sisters: Sierra and Cheyenne. They loved dolphins and he loved them.
About 10 years after treatments, Dakota finally entered a solid remission. He embraced life with extreme passion and intensity. Dakota competed in boys gymnastics and club hockey until school sports where he excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field. He embraced every kind of challenge that came before him. Dakota won many sports awards and titles, was a captain of his track and field team, and co-captain of his football team. Dakota played varsity sports all four years of high school, without most people ever knowing his arm's muscular system didn’t grow to the size of the healthy arm. It was considerably damaged from radiation therapy and friends called him Popeye.
While many other cancer survivors were suffering heart complications, Dakota's athletic abilities were a testament to the doctors and the faith and prayers that everyone had for him. His oncologist used photos of him for national conferences of childhood cancers to showcase the success in not damaging his growth plates and his healthy active lifestyle. It was an accomplishment of Dakota's dedication to be as fit as possible and the skill of his radiologist at the Medical College of Ohio. Dakota was exceptional in his studies and loved by every teacher for his intellect coupled with his playfully mischievous antics and good-hearted nature. Along with his friends, they would play jokes with those that didn't know, telling them he'd been bit by a shark. An indication of his likable personality, Dakota was his class vice president and voted to prom court.
Dakota is a newly married young man with his whole life ahead of him and dreams to have a family with his wife Jessy. Dakota is appreciated by his employers and loved by his coworkers and they have high hopes for him in their company.
As a childhood cancer survivor, accomplished athlete, and all around good guy - Dakota is a fighter. He is tough but presently in a lot of pain from the traditional radiation. Everyone who knows Dakota cannot help but laugh at his jokes and quirky humor. He is loved by all those that know him and we gratefully appreciate any donations that you are willing to share for him. Thank you for your donations and especially for your prayers. This page is setup and managed by Dakota's 4 siblings.
Aetna has already lost a major case for denying this same treatment to another that battled a head/neck cancer, but is still practicing their same tricks in denying coverage of Dakota's proton therapy treatment. We have had enough and are switching him to the treatment that will give him the best chance at beating this cancer and with the least amount of damage to his face, eyesight, and brain so that he can live the life that he already fought cancer once to live. Had Dakota been covered with a different insurance company such as BCBS, been on Medicaid, been under 21 or over 65 - he'd be receiving proton therapy paid for by insurance. The 3 weeks of fighting with the insurance company has been disappointing and a shame. Someone who fought and survived cancer as a small child should not have to battle the insurance company, to pay for the right treatment when fighting cancer again as a young adult.
Fundraising team (4)
Sierra Cousineau
Organizer
Temperance, MI
Dakota Cousineau
Beneficiary
Lance Cousineau
Team member
Luke Cousineau
Team member
Cheyenne Cousineau
Team member