Tanner

Tanner was diagnosed on July 7, 1998 with a 4th ventricle posterior fossa Ependymoma.  He was 21 months old.  At the hands of Dr. Michael Handler, Tanner’s neurosurgeon, a complete surgical resection took place on July 9th, 1998 at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Tanner spent 3 grueling weeks in the hospital recovering.  During that time, a VP shunt was installed in his head to control his hydrocephalus caused by the tumor. Tanner received 3 rounds of chemotherapy (at the guidance of Dr. Nick Foreman, Tanner’s neuro-oncologist). On February 13, 2001, it was discovered that Tanner’s brain tumor had relapsed.  He had yet another complete surgical resection February 19th, 2001. He received 2 rounds of Tomodar (a type of oral chemotherapy) and received 33 rounds of radiation.

Unfortunately, once again, on May 17th, 2004 it was discovered that Tanner again relapsed. Another resection of the tumor was done on June 7th, 2004. After he recovered he received 3 rounds of radiation therapy. Tanner served as Children’s Hospital Colorado Ambassador in 2004. He received daily shots of growth hormone and monthly shots of Lupron.

Tanner had beaten his original diagnosis of Ependymoma, but recurred with a radiation-induced secondary tumor in the brain stem in 2012. He had a full vigorous life and was able to spend 2013 traveling with his family and “DJ’ing” dubstep.

Tanner was a very loving boy and a true hero!