Owen Laske

At just five years old, Owen is the kind of little boy who leaves an impression on everyone he meets. Endlessly curious, fiercely determined, and always ready with quick banter, he has a way of bringing smiles wherever he goes. Whether he’s building elaborate Legos, mastering math problems, collecting Pokémon cards, playing Nintendo Switch, or running across the soccer field, Owen embraces life with enthusiasm. But above all else, Owen’s favorite place to be is with his family.

His two older brothers, Keson and Conley, are his built-in best friends, and he proudly embraces his role as big brother to little Rowena. Whether they’re reading stories together, playing games, camping, visiting the zoo, or simply spending time together at home, Owen is happiest when he’s surrounded by the people he loves most. His parents, Rebecca and Cory, describe him best:

In November 2025, Rebecca and Cory began noticing subtle changes in Owen’s balance. As his symptoms progressed, they rushed him to the emergency department, where imaging revealed every parent’s worst nightmare—an inoperable tumor in his brain stem. An MRI confirmed the devastating diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Within days, Owen underwent a biopsy, opening the door to future clinical trial opportunities. Shortly afterward, he began radiation therapy, completing all thirty sessions without sedation—a reflection of the bravery that has become the hallmark of his journey.

Radiation brought encouraging results, but the fight was far from over.

Determined to pursue every possible option, Owen’s family traveled from their home in New York to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he enrolled in a CAR T-cell clinical trial at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. During March, the Laske family temporarily relocated to Michigan while Owen underwent chemotherapy followed by eight CAR T-cell infusions, continuing to travel back and forth for ongoing treatment. Currently, Owen is taking steps to enroll in another clinical trial for CAR-T cells in Seattle, after he completes a second cycle of radiation.

Through every hospital stay, procedure, and long day of treatment, Owen’s spirit never haltered.

His family often says they strive to be “Owen Brave.” It has become their way of facing uncertainty with hope, choosing joy in the hardest moments, and believing there can still be beautiful days ahead.

Today, Owen continues his fight surrounded by an extraordinary community of family, friends, and supporters who have rallied behind him with prayers, encouragement, and unwavering love. Their support has helped ease the burden of travel and medical expenses, allowing Rebecca and Cory to focus on what matters most: making memories and giving Owen every opportunity to keep fighting.

Like every child diagnosed with DIPG, Owen deserves more than courage alone. He deserves better treatments and more options. He deserves a future.

At ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, that future is exactly what we’re working toward. Every research grant awarded, every clinical trial launched, and every discovery made is fueled by children like Owen whose bravery inspires researchers, physicians, donors, and families to keep pushing forward until DIPG is no longer a devastating diagnosis.

Until then, we will continue standing beside warriors like Owen. Because being “Owen Brave” means never giving up hope.