TeamTommyDDefeatDIPG

Hi my name is Thomas Davis and I’m 19 years old. Before my diagnosis I lived a pretty normal life working as a automotive technician at PineBelt Subaru. This is a job I really enjoyed going to everyday. I was always keeping myself busy with my job and having fun living life as a normal teenager should. My world was about to completely change forever and be turned upside down. One year after I graduated high school, on December 9, 2021, I was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of pediatric brain cancer called DIPG. What is DIPG u may ask? It is a highly aggressive brain stem tumor that’s located in the pons of the brain with no cure even after 50 years of research. DIPG causes all major functions of the body to decline such as a persons balance, heartbeat, breathing, eyesight, swallowing, speech, muscle function and coordination. Eventually robbing a person of their life. 90% of patients die within a year of diagnosis. What’s even worse is it effects mainly children who are 5-10 years of age with only 150-300 cases reported every year in the United States. Including myself which is even more rare because of my age. I’m raising awareness and also looking for help with travel expenses, hotel stays and necessities that I need for my care. I also plan to donate a portion to charity to further research into a cure to this awful disease. This would help me to potentially get into a clinical trial that is across the country. Any amount is appreciated. I had to take time to process this for myself to be able to share with others. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and help bring awareness to this awful disease with no cure.