Jared Benzekri
July 30, 2007 – September 28, 2015
Jared is a 7 year old boy who was diagnosed with DIPG on November 25, 2014. He is an active little boy who enjoys soccer, swimming, and hockey. Like all parents who end up in the ER with their child, you do not expect a diagnosis like DIPG. His family originally thought he had a concussion from playing hockey, or perhaps an ear infection. The diagnosis was a shock. Devastated by news of the diagnosis, his family started treatments. As they learned more about DIPG, his family realized that their options were very limited. This is not an operable tumor and chemotherapy has proven ineffective. There are clinical trials going on but nothing is proven and no cure is available to date. His family has been attempting to boost his immune system using a combination of alternative therapies.
Jared finished 6 weeks of radiation therapy in January, and approximately 6 weeks after it ended, his family learned the tumor was reduced by more than 50%. In June, his family received the news that an MRI showed that other tumor sites were forming. His family is currently trying to enroll in a trial in Cincinnati.
Jared sadly left us at only 8 years old following a 10 month battle with DIPG on September 28, 2015.
You can learn more about Jared on his Facebook page.
