Support Braden's Battle Against Burkitt’s Lymphoma

Braden is a 2024 graduate from Gibraltar High School, where he was a 3 season athlete, and had a very competitive edge to him. Braden had a great summer ahead of him, including an All-Star basketball game and an All-Star football game, as well as working in between to make some money for college. Braden was unable to participate in the All-Star football game due to back pain, fatigue, ankle and feet swelling. But was still looking forward to start college at UW Lacrosse in the fall, where he would be playing endless football as well as studying exercise science.

After a month of continuous back pain and swollen limbs, it was a Monday morning, we went to our Dr for lab tests, and were put in a room where they did a couple tests, as well as an x-ray thinking maybe it was Mono. Well, we wish that was the case, instead fast forward to Monday afternoon, and we were on our way to the ER in Green Bay. After further lab work and more testing we were told that Braden had severe anemia and that he was going to need blood transfusions. Then came the news no parent wants to hear, Braden was diagnosed with Burkett’s lymphoma. With needing blood transfusions, we were admitted immediately again. Braden’s hemoglobin was at 5, and the normal is 14-15, and was going to be given 3 units of blood. 3 days later, we were released to go home.

Monday July 29, we had a Dr’s appointment to have more labs done, and to go over a game plan for chemo. After the Dr got the lab results back, once again, we were admitted immediately to the ICU. The lymphoma was breaking apart and he needed to start with chemo earlier than anticipated. The next few days were a rollercoaster, and before we knew it, he was on his way down to have a biopsy done on bone marrow, a lumbar puncture, a port put in for chemo as well as a port for dialysis in case they needed that. Within a couple days, a soft round of chemo was started. Dialysis was needed as well to clean out his blood to protect his kidneys, as there was a tumor pushing on his kidneys.

Within the 2 weeks of being in the hospital, he has had several lumbar spine punctures, a few CT scans among other procedures and was a trooper for it all. The bone marrow and spine showed no lymphoma. Finally some good news.

Monday Aug 12, we were discharged and adjusting to our new normal. Braden slept a lot the first few days of being home, and is not feeling the best so far. We will be going back and forth to the hospital over the next several months for a week at a time for chemo treatments.

At this time, the next couple months are very unknown, but we are holding on to a lot of faith and trust in the Dr’s that Braden will have a intense and rough couple months, but be back and off to college in the spring semester.