Meet my cousin, TJ Reilly. Although he is only recently 12 years of age, he’s had to face a lot more than what normal twelve-year-olds are going through. When TJ was 10 he was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable type of brain tumor called Gliomatosis Cerebri. TJ currently lives in Pennsylvania with his mom (Krissy Reilly) and dad (Todd Reilly) as well as four brothers and sisters.
For starters, here’s some background information on TJ’s cancer (paraphrased from his GoFundMe account page):
Gliomatosis Cerebri is a rare form of brain cancer that is highly aggressive and very resistant to typical cancer treatment. The malignancies involved with GC are not lumps like most tumors we are used to hearing, but rather cancerous threads that spreads very quickly and infiltrates deep into the surrounding brain tissue. Sometimes it can infiltrate into multiple parts of the brain simultaneously, making it very difficult to remove with surgery. It’s important to note that any surgery involving the brain is extremely risky, however with the thread-like form this cancer takes, it rules it out completely. Chemotherapy and radiation have been unsuccessful forms of treatment. GC is so rare that less than 100 cases are documented in the United States each year. While not much is known for the cause, we do know there is no effective cure at this time. Below are links if you wish to know more about GC:
Boston's Children Hospital
Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center
St. Judge's Children Hospital
How you can help:
Obviously, everyone knows medical costs can be insane. While TJ is in excellent hands at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the costs for any other neuro doctors can be tremendous, yet alone for parents of multiple children. All proceeds donated on TJ’s GoFundMe page go directly to Krissy and Todd Reilly. All unused funds will go to a charity of their choosing to help other sick children receive care.
My challenge for all of you:
I challenge every one of you to share this article with as many people as you can. Get the word out. Get TJ’s word out; his story. Help us by donating; any amount helps. Most importantly, I challenge each and every one of you to live each day to the fullest. Be a fighter. Love proudly. Live freely.
