For Cullen...

Cullen Terrell turned three on March 28th. Like many toddlers he opened presents, got a bunch of big balloons (all with his favorite character Spiderman) and blew his three candles out before partaking in cake and ice cream. But unlike most toddlers, three days later, he couldn’t get his balance while walking down the hallway of his farmhouse in the rolling fields of the Iowa countryside. His parents (Bobbi & Duane – my sister and brother-in-law) quickly rushed him to the local ER where they did a CT scan and discovered a tumor on the right side of his lower brain near the brain stem. He was immediately taken to Iowa City for an emergency surgery to drain fluid from his brain to relieve pressure.

He remained at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital through the weekend; the following Monday they performed a craniotomy to remove the tumor. They were not able to remove the entire tumor due to its risky location - protruding from the brain stem. A week later, they removed the tube managing the pressure in his brain and installed a shunt. He was just sent home this week- where the family will sit...awaiting results from pathology so the oncologist can meet with them about plans for further treatment to include chemotherapy or radiation.

No one should have to experience their 3-year-old son going through so many tests, procedures, surgeries & uncertainty to save his life. It is heartbreaking for all of us. Maybe most of all his big brother Aiden, who

spent the day his brother first went to the hospital asking how the sun could be shining on such a horrible day, why something so awful was happening to his brother and how he wished it were him sick instead.

While Bobbi and Duane support their sons (and each other) through the long road ahead, I hate that I’ve heard them worry about how much it will all cost. As the doctors talk about how to save Cullen’s precious life, the cost of it all should not be on his parents’ minds. They have already spent on lodging and food for their older son to stay close, random things like socks that were forgotten at home (two hours away) and assistance watching the animals at the farm. They now discuss how they will pay for what is expected to be a costly fight for their son’s life.

We would be thankful for anyone able to donate and allow Cullen’s parents to concentrate all of their thoughts on his treatment & recovery and keep themselves together while experiencing the worst that a parent could imagine.

Thank you all for the support and well wishes. We appreciate you.

Terri