Bryson's Fight Against Cancer

Hi, I'm raising funds for my nephew Bryson Castillo's family to enable their efforts to get Bryson the treatment he needs. Bryson is 16 years old now, a high school junior in College Place, Washington (just outside of Walla Walla). He is an amazing big brother to Daisy and Malachi, and loves spending time with his older siblings Elijah, Christopher and Aubrey. He likes to ride his unicycle just like his Grandpa Jim, play the clarinet and saxophone, and has loved playing football on his school team. The primary photo shows Bryson holding his own nephew (Elijah's son) Elias, whom he adores and has taken time to help watch over when needed.

Starting over a year ago, Bryson had pains in his leg that initially he thought were growing pains. As time went on, it became apparent they couldn't be just that. He was not his usual cheerful self and had trouble carrying on his daily routines. His parents, Debby (a part time home health care provider) and Ely (a guard at the Washington State Penitentiary), had a hard time getting Bryson's medical care providers to acknowledge that he wasn't exaggerating his pain and that this was not growing pains. They were stopped repeatedly in their efforts to get him an MRI to find out what was going on by insurance red tape.

Their struggle bore bitter fruit when on Monday, Feb 26 his local care provider finally gave him an urgent referral to Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. By that time, he had some atrophy of the muscles in his leg and had lost a lot of weight due to loss of appetite from the pain. On Feb 27, a CT scan found a large lump in his hip/pelvis. At that time, finally at last he was provided some real pain relief. He'd been unbelievably dealing with a tumor using minimal over the counter pain meds. He was so happy to finally have care providers who believed him and were trying to help him.

A biopsy was taken from his hip, which for more than a week stumped Seattle analysts as to what type of cancer it might be. They also unexpectedly in the CT scan found nodules in his lungs, and later they also took a biopsy from one of those. The wait to begin treatment until they could identify the cancers was unbearable.

Bryson has a strong faith and has been praying with family. He has had an amazing, optimistic and positive attitude. He is putting his trust in the Lord, and had an anointing for healing ceremony on March 13 to help focus prayers.

We got the results from both biopsies this last week.

Bryson has been diagnosed with a Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (a rare and dangerous type of sarcoma) in his pelvis on the sciatic nerve. There is also a second type of cancer in the same location, which is an Angiosarcomatous Transformation of the first cancer. This type was found to have metastasized to his lungs, making it even more life-threatening. Also this last week an MRI was finally done, and they found related bone cancer has caused Bryson to have a broken vertebra. This further explains the incredible pain he's been suffering.

The doctors at Sacred Heart installed a port in Bryson's chest to facilitate treatment. He has lost his appetite for the most part and this port is also used for providing him with much needed nutrients so he doesn't have to try to force himself to eat.

Bryson just this Easter Weekend finished his first few chemotherapy treatments and is probably going home today to College Place until Thursday when Debby and Ely will take him back to Spokane to continue the chemo (and he might soon get surgery to remove his hip tumor). While these types of cancer aren't very responsive to chemo, they are hoping it will shrink it enough to make it more operable. There is a chance they'll have to remove his leg to get the entire tumor.

They are waiting for scheduling of radiation treatment for the bone cancer, which should happen in the next couple of weeks.

While Bryson and his parents have been in Spokane, Daisy and Malachi are being watched over by two of their adult siblings Christopher and Aubrey, who are lovingly finding time to stay with them. It is heartening to see such a tight-knit and strong family facing adversity together.

Bittersweet is that Bryson has been enduring braces (the bane of many teenagers), and he will be getting them removed this week. Due to the weakened state that chemo will leave his immune system in, it is required to remove the braces early since they can be a source of infection. He is very pleased to be getting them off, regardless of the reason :)

Bryson is a light in the lives of everyone he knows. Please find it in your heart to contribute financially to help his parents fund his treatment. They are hardworking, honest, wonderful people, but the costs that fall to them after insurance are not bearable, especially with the income lost from having to take unpaid leave. They are my brother and sister by marriage, but just as close as blood. Contributions will go directly to them (I will have no access) to enable travel to Sacred Heart in Spokane (gas, lodging, food) and of course primarily paying medical expenses. While average costs to fight cancer are over $100,000, I'm starting with a modest $20,000 goal - to be adjusted if necessary.

Thank you for your assistance in this noble and desperate fight. Your donation, whether $10 or $500 or anything in between, will be very much appreciated, and I'll keep you up to date on Bryson's journey.