In April 2023, our youngest child, Drew, who was 14 at the time, was diagnosed with a rare aggressive brain tumor. Drew was enrolled in a clinical trial. The clinical trial involved a special research MRI that used color to help better differentiate tumor cells from non-tumor cells. Every 3 months, Drew would have a  regular and a research MRI. After an initial surgery to remove the mass on his right frontal lobe and before follow-up radiation treatment, Drew had his first research MRI. It showed a puddle of tumor cells in the center of his brain and a patch of tumor cells on the left side of his brain; neither of these places were detected by the regular MRI. The information from this clinical trial told our radiation oncologist to target radiation to these places in addition to the original tumor site which bought us significantly more time with our son.

With this extra time, we were able to experience a National Park trip as a family including Drew’s first choice, the Grand Canyon, courtesy of Make-a-Wish GA and Make-a-Wish AZ. Most of us returned out west 2 months later on our own to tour Drew’s second choice, Yellowstone National Park. We were able to experience Disney World at Christmastime with our extended family – 11 of us; Drew planned every minute of it for those who could keep up. In April 2025, Drew earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During his final project, he led his friends to build 2 towel rack carts for the swimming pool at a place called Camp Twin Lakes which hosts a variety of communities of children with challenges each year including Camp Sunshine for children with cancer. The plaques on his carts read “Don’t Throw in the Towel” reminding children for years to come not to give up regardless of the challenges they are facing. Though we lost Drew in July of 2025, he had time to have an impact, to leave a legacy. This precious time, our treasured memories, and the gift to Camp Twin Lakes were only possible because of a pediatric clinical trial, and pediatric clinical trials are only possible because of funding from generous donors. Thank you for your gift to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, a department of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.xoxoxoxo, David and Miranda Rouk