Carmen Pena's son Dariel
Donation protected
Dariel Ramirez turned five on April 19, 2015. Shortly afterward, the adorable, happy, energetic little boy began suffering from severe headaches. Despite suggestions of others that Dariel needed his eyes checked, Carmen had a nagging feeling that something more serious was occurring.
On May 31, 2015, she took her son to the emergency room. There, an MRI uncovered a brain tumor which was causing a buildup of fluid in Dariel’s skull. This was the cause of the headaches. Dariel has been in Hackensack Hospital since then. A biopsy confirmed that he has Pineoblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer which starts in the pineal gland. After the initial surgery to reduce the pressure, an attempt was made to remove the tumor. Doctors succeeded in removing 40% of the tumor and put Dariel on chemotherapy. In total, this brave little boy has endured 7 operations so far and has completed two rounds of chemotherapy. After the surgery to remove the tumor, Dariel could not speak at all for over a month and a half. His left side was paralyzed and he has begun to lose his hair. Yet, in a video his mom made, when Dariel is asked if anything is bothering him, he shakes his head “no”; when asked if he wants to play, he nods “yes”.
Despite Dariel’s positive attitude, the latest news is not good. Unfortunately, the tumor did not respond to the chemotherapy, and Hackensack Hospital informed Carmen that there is nothing else they can do. Carmen has been reaching out to other hospitals around the nation to see if there are any other options they can try. A great mother, Carmen will do whatever it takes, leave no stone unturned, in her efforts to save her son’s life.
Dariel’s mother, Carmen, is a dedicated, hard working woman who is also raising Dariel’s seven year old sister Tianna. Please keep them, along with the children's father Allen, all in prayer, and, if you can, please consider contributing to help support this family during this difficult time.
On May 31, 2015, she took her son to the emergency room. There, an MRI uncovered a brain tumor which was causing a buildup of fluid in Dariel’s skull. This was the cause of the headaches. Dariel has been in Hackensack Hospital since then. A biopsy confirmed that he has Pineoblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer which starts in the pineal gland. After the initial surgery to reduce the pressure, an attempt was made to remove the tumor. Doctors succeeded in removing 40% of the tumor and put Dariel on chemotherapy. In total, this brave little boy has endured 7 operations so far and has completed two rounds of chemotherapy. After the surgery to remove the tumor, Dariel could not speak at all for over a month and a half. His left side was paralyzed and he has begun to lose his hair. Yet, in a video his mom made, when Dariel is asked if anything is bothering him, he shakes his head “no”; when asked if he wants to play, he nods “yes”.
Despite Dariel’s positive attitude, the latest news is not good. Unfortunately, the tumor did not respond to the chemotherapy, and Hackensack Hospital informed Carmen that there is nothing else they can do. Carmen has been reaching out to other hospitals around the nation to see if there are any other options they can try. A great mother, Carmen will do whatever it takes, leave no stone unturned, in her efforts to save her son’s life.
Dariel’s mother, Carmen, is a dedicated, hard working woman who is also raising Dariel’s seven year old sister Tianna. Please keep them, along with the children's father Allen, all in prayer, and, if you can, please consider contributing to help support this family during this difficult time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cynthia Arone
Organizer
Suffern, NY
Carmen Pena
Beneficiary