All-Star Peter

Nine-year-old Peter’s symptoms began suddenly in the middle of the night when he woke up crying with a terrible headache. His parents took him to the ER where he was diagnosed with Covid and told to go home. The pain intensified and they went to the ER several times, always to be sent home without answers.  

Finally, when they refused to leave the hospital, Peter had an MRI. It revealed an abnormal mass on the left side of his brain. They were given two hospitals as an option for treatment in Texas.  They chose for Peter and his mom to be helicoptered to San Antonio, 170 miles away from their home. Jose, his dad made the drive and Peter’s three brothers stayed with grandparents.

They learned that Peter’s tumor was malignant, a type of Medulloblastoma. He needed surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The surgery was a success, and the family went home after five nights.  

When he returned for radiation, they had to stay in San Antonio for 30 days. His parents stayed with him, while Peter’s brothers stayed with family. It was hard on the siblings, and one of Peter’s brothers soon joined them as he was missing his mom too much. During that time, Jose was not able to work. He was thankful for donated days off from coworkers and the fact that he did not lose his job as a teaching assistant from all the time he spent away caring for Peter.  

After radiation treatment, Peter started chemotherapy. He is currently still receiving chemotherapy treatment and these cycles require making the long and expensive drive frequently. This drive is also required any time Peter spikes a fever, as is common among those in treatment. If that happens, they head on yet another unplanned trip to San Antonio.  

“We deal with it 24/7,” said Jose. “I am at work, but I am always worried about him. If he is sleepy and won’t eat, then we know something is wrong and we go to the hospital.” 

That’s why support from Pinky Swear Foundation is so crucial for families facing childhood cancer. Peter’s family received an Orange Envelope and support from an All-Star Fund payment.  

“Pinky Swear gave us an Orange Envelope and sent a $500 card for gas and groceries. We received $700 in total. It helped a lot. We used it for food to make sure Peter ate well. We had been living on crackers and now we could buy food too. Borrowing money from family is hard, they don’t understand the situation. We are so thankful to you, so grateful for what you do for families like ours,” Jose said. 

Peter’s treatment should finish in October 2024, 18 months after he was diagnosed. He is being homeschooled and his parents are grateful that so far, his side effects have not been too bad, all things considered.  

“He has tingling in his fingers and issues with coordination and walking,” explained Jose. “With therapies, he will overcome this. He plays outside on the weekend and can remember things from when he was at school. He has bad memories too of going to the ER and nobody helping him.” 

Peter enjoys drawing, video games, and going out to eat with his brothers as often as he can to distract himself from the stress of his treatment. He is also getting more familiar with the pokes, the pain and feeling ill and is more cooperative knowing that his treatment will end later this year.