Help Brayden Battle Stomach Cancer

On November 3rd, 2022 we learned that our 11 year old son Brayden has an incredibly rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer, called Diffuse Signet Ring Cell Gastric Carcinoma and is one of the rarest types of gastric cancer, even in adults. Multiple specialists and oncologists have told the Peerson family that Brayden may be one of the youngest kids to ever be diagnosed with this type of cancer which currently only occurs in 0.05% of the adult population. In addition, most people who develop this specific type of cancer have a gene mutation which predisposes them to it but Brayden does not carry this gene marker making his diagnosis even more rare and unusual. 

Currently Brayden is being seen and treated by a comprehensive team of both Adult and Pediatric cancer specialists at City of Hope Clinical Research Hospital in Los Angeles along with Stanford Cancer Center and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. Future care may require the family to be sent outside the state for further evaluation and care at other comprehensive cancer centers like MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. 

Brayden's care plan moving forward will not be a short or easy route, even if an adequate surgery and chemotherapy plan can be put into place to help Brayden, he will require YEARS of follow-up care, continued monitoring treatment, costly medical procedures and scans along with numerous appointments. While the Peerson family feels blessed and grateful to have access to quality medical care and health insurance to help fight this unimaginable disease, there are so many expenses that health insurance does not cover including, travel costs (gas, flights, hotels, etc..), medications and holistic treatments, lost wages from time away from employment and more. 

In addition, due to the historically poor prognosis of this type of cancer in adult cases which are the only reference, Brayden has begun to make a "bucket list" of memories and experiences he would like to have and share with his brother, sister and parents while he is still physically able and somewhat healthy enough to enjoy those experiences, which of course are not without cost.

Above it all, Brayden remains a happy young man and is filled with hope that he will be the one to battle this "cancer beast" and beat it. Brayden has always had a positive and loving spirit and I believe that his determination and will to fight will serve him well on this difficult journey. The Peerson Family is eternally grateful for the kindness, love and support that their friends, family, and community have offered to them during this tragic time. So many have reached out to ask how they can help support us and for those who would like a tangible way to offer support and comfort aside from prayers and positive thoughts, please consider donating to this fund to help support the family, especially as we head into the holiday season.

You can follow along with Brayden's journey on his Instagram page, @braydenthemighty and updates will also be posted here as well.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We love each and everyone of you.