Spencer Thorsland

We are Erik Burkman and Ang Riedel and we started this fundraiser for Spencer Thorsland.

Lori & David Huml's son, Spencer is a 12-year-old boy from Brandon, South Dakota. Like all 12-year-olds, he wanted to live a normal life of friends, school, activities, and family. But that all changed when he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the beginning of 5th grade.

Since then, he has endured what kids his age should never have to. Multiple surgeries, countless procedures, needle pokes, infusions, hyperbaric treatment, chemo, blood transfusions, drainage tubes, scans, labs, so, so much sickness, and many complications from the chemo.

He has spent more time living in the hospital than he has at home. He has missed most of his 5th-7th grade school years. He has missed out being at home with his five brothers.

And through all of this, Spencer has been unbelievably brave. He has shown the most amazing strength and courage that most people wouldn’t be able to fathom. And his faith has been unwavering. He has taught all of us so much.

After his original diagnosis in 2020, Spencer went into remission and then his cancer returned in 6th grade. He went into remission again and just last week was told that the cancer had returned for a third time. There are at least seven tumors growing in his pelvis.

When Spencer was told the news, he told his mom “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think I’m ready to go to Heaven.”

Not long after Spencer said this, his parents met with his oncology team who confirmed that there was nothing more they could do to fight the cancer. It was like Spencer had already known.

Spencer is back home and is on palliative care in hospice. He is spending his last days trying to do as many fun things as he can with his family and see his friends. He talks about heaven sometimes and has told his mom that when he goes to heaven that he will get to see his big sister who died right after birth. He says that she will take care of him, and they will go see the cats together. He loves cats and is looking forward to seeing all of them in heaven.

We started this GoFundMe to help his family with any medical expenses they have, to help with meals, or any other expenses that may come up.

The family would like to say thank you for the overwhelming amount of support they have received through Spencer's entire cancer journey. Especially since he has returned home this last weekend. The community has really come together to show their love and support for their family and they are so very appreciative.