In June 2023 a little league baseball injury left Benjamin with pain in his left leg. After many visits to doctors, X-rays, an MRI, and finally a biopsy, Benjamin was diagnosed with B-COR sarcoma in July 2023. He had 6 chemo treatments alternating between 2-day and 5-day hospital stays during the first 12 weeks. During this time he was not allowed to put weight on his left leg because of the tumor’s location and doctors being worried about a possible fracture. Benjamin went from being an active kid running around and playing, to a kid who now was forced to move around on crutches and a wheelchair. In November 2023 Benjamin had surgery to remove the tumor, which left him with an endoprosthesis that goes from his femoral head to the middle of his thigh. He then had 8 additional chemo treatments post-surgery, while at the same time learning how to walk and move on his new leg. Benjamin finished his chemo treatments at the end of February 2024 and is slowly returning to his activities and getting stronger each day. He will continue to have x-rays on his left leg and CT chest scans every 3 months in hopes that no cancer returns.
From the beginning of our discovery of the tumor, the Sam Day Foundation has been an invaluable resource for our family. Helping us to know the questions to ask, being a sounding board for frustrations and anxiety and most of all giving us hope for the future. We are grateful for the way SDF is filling the gap in much needed research and are thankful for you, our community for joining alongside us with the Sam Day Foundation to give more kids a fighting chance against cancer.
