FIGHTING FOR OUR LEV! ️ #livelonglev

FIGHTING FOR OUR LEV! #livelonglev

Natasha and Dustin Schissler

Please follow our Lev’s journey on Insta/fb - LiveLongLev

** We will update regularly on Lev’s progress and medical steps. We are happy to explain and answer all questions. Donations can also be made directly to Lev’s PayPal (LiveLongLev), Venmo (LiveLongLev), or Zelle (Natalia Schissler) accounts to avoid additional platform fees. Please reach out – we are an open book.

The world of pediatric cancer is harsh. And then there is “very rare pediatric brain cancer,” when every doctor starts the conversation with “I am so sorry.” On July 3, 2024, we heard those words for the first time.

A few weeks into summer break 2024, our eldest son, 10yo Lev, experienced worsening nausea and vomiting which led to a trip to the Stanford Hospital ER, where we found ourselves staring at an MRI of Lev's brain. That afternoon and the days that followed were like a scene out of a movie with doctors asking to speak to us privately; specialists of all types doing every possible medical test; two risky surgical brain biopsies. All of this led to a conclusive diagnosis.

On July 3 our entire world came crashing down as our 10-year-old was diagnosed with a very rare and inoperable brain cancer. Battling through many symptoms that overnight stole the life of the active boy we knew, Lev has been nothing but inspirational! But it’s been tough, too. 2 brain surgeries. 30 radiation sessions. Sticking a wearable tumor treatment fields device on his head for 18+ hours every day. Many MRIs. Countless pokes… all part of this grueling journey. We quickly had to face the harsh reality of working full-time, providing around-the-clock care, as well as spending countless hours researching and speaking to doctors and scientists from all over the world to figure out how we give our Lev a fighting chance to beat cancer.

The official “standard of care” for brain cancer this rare has now been exhausted. We are looking at the world of clinical trials and private experimental treatments. It’s only within the last few years that immunotherapy/innovative approaches have started offering kids like Lev hope. As one of the doctors told us, scientists have not seen a complete breakthrough in this diagnosis, but they finally feel like they have started cracking the code. We want to give our Lev a fighting chance to see through this soon-to-be breakthrough.

The next step we have chosen for Lev's treatment is a CAR T-cell clinical trial at Stanford. In addition to this therapy, Lev will require other treatments and testing. We will need Plan B (and C, and D), and we will need them as fast as possible!

As we fight for our Lev, we continue working full-time, trying to juggle care for Lev and his two younger brothers (8 and 5) and to maintain some sort of stability in their lives. Please donate today to help our Lev get the best shot at beating this! 100% of funds you donate will be used to cover:

We were strangers to this “rare pediatric cancer” world too – until the day we were not. Your support means a lot. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving our Lev a fighting chance.

Dustin and Natasha, Lev's parents #livelonglev