We have a teenager!!!
Today is Reese’s 13th birthday!!! He has had such an amazing year so far! This January marked the 4th anniversary of Reese ringing the...
top of page
WELCOME TO TEAM REESE
The purpose of this site is to update family and friends on Reese's journey through brain surgery, Proton therapy, Chemotherapy and recovery.
Your thoughts, prayers, support, and well wishes throughout this journey will stay with us forever.
Home: Welcome
Home: Subscribe
REESE STRONG
Below is the story of the unthinkable. We never thought our happy, sweet, kindhearted little boy would have a brain tumor and our lives would be changed forever.
Beginning in September 2018, Reese started vomiting in the morning and complaining of stomach pain.
We pushed and pushed to figure out the cause, including a visit to a Pediatric GI specialist. Unfortunately, he was not able to identify anything wrong such as ulcers, acid reflux etc. However, he did prescribe an Upper GI with Barium and said we could get a MRI of the head.
Reese wasn’t feeling well enough to go to school during the last week of October, but was able to gather enough strength to go Trick or Treating on Halloween 2018. He had such a great time running into a few of his friends. He seemed extra tired that night and went to bed early, without eating his candy.
The next day (11/1/18), we had an MRI of the head scheduled in the afternoon thinking we should just do it to be sure.
The MRI took an hour longer than planned, and when we finally got the MRI results late that night, a 4cm mass at the base of his brain was discovered. The mass turned out to be a malignant tumor blocking the fluid from draining in his brain, ultimately causing his nausea.
We were admitted to Lurie’s that evening and emergency surgery was performed the next morning on 11/2. Surgery resulted in a full resection of a Group 4 Medulloblastoma (an aggressive form of Cancer) from 4th ventricle.
Post-surgery however, resulted in Reese having Posterior Fossa Syndrome. It is a form of mutism and he has had to relearn how to move all of his body, swallow to eat (feeding tube), talk and even open his eyes to see. Other than nausea, Reese seemed and felt perfectly normal in every way prior to surgery.
4-5 days post-surgery Reese stopped all movement and communication. It was 31 days post-surgery until he said his first word. 47 days till he was able to eat his first bite of real food. He is able to walk with maximum assistance, so currently he is in a wheel chair. He has weakness on his right side, his dominant side, so his right arm has limited movement and strength.
A scared little boy went into surgery (to remove a “bump”) with the only symptom being nausea and woke up not being able to see, talk, eat or communicate.
Reese stayed at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital from 11/1/18 until 11/20/18, and was transported to Marion Joy Rehabilitation Hospital. Which was located close to where he was to begin Proton Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy.
Home: Text
Reese on NBC Nightly News
A huge thank you to Horace Mann Elementary for such an amazing welcome back rainbow parade!
Home: Video
Search
NED MRI for Reese!
Hi everyone! As we are getting ready to head back to school (Reese will be a 7th grader at Julian!?!?) Reese went in for an MRI over the...
Reese’s Make a Wish was granted
What. A. Week! Last week the Siler family traveled to San Diego to visit Legoland and spend time with a Lego Master Builder. A heartfelt...
Happy Halloween!
Hi everyone! Hope you all had an amazing Halloween. :) Today marks the 4 year anniversary of Reese's cancer diagnosis and this post is in...
NED MRI!!
Reese got the news of an NED MRI and overall stable images from the weekend! We are blessed with such loving family and friends. A...
Fun before an MRI
We had fun attending the Chicago ComiCon today and we’re lucky enough to get a photo with none other than C-3PO himself, Anthony...
5th Grade Graduation!!
Reese graduated 5th grade last week! He’s been working to use his walking crutches and asked if he could walk across the stage on his...
Happy 11th Birthday Reese!!
Wishing you the happiest Birthday wishes! We are so proud of you and for working so hard each and every day. You bring such joy to...
Just Because - poem by Reese
Sharing a poem Reese wrote at school this week and a quick update. Sometimes it's easy to forget what he faces each and every day. Just...
Happy Spring!
We hope this message finds you all doing well and as ready for going to the store without a mask as we are! Reese has been working hard...
NED MRI!
Another NED MRI result. With each MRI, we relive Reese's surgery and everything he has endured. He told us the night before his MRI, that...
MRI today and 2 yr anniversary of last Chemo treatment
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller It's been a while since...
What a trooper!
Hi everyone, just wanted to share that Reese went in for a Growth Hormone stress test today that lasted over 4 hours. He was not able to...
NED MRI and future Trumpet player
Hope you all are having a good weekend! Just wanted to share the NED results of Reese’s latest MRI! We also wanted to share that Reese is...
Reese walking and MRI this Sunday
Hi everyone, Reese has enjoyed the first few weeks of 5th grade, and becoming more comfortable moving around the house. Reese, we are so...
Hello from Belize!
To celebrate of the completion of Reese's Cancer treatment, and everything we've been through over the past 3 years, we took a trip to...
NED (no evidence of disease) MRI results
Reese’s MRI results came back as NED marking another milestone in his recovery! By far the highest risk of relapse comes in the first few...
Upcoming MRI, Surgery Update and Thank You
Hi everyone! Reese has an MRI tomorrow, Sunday May 16th so please keep him in your thoughts. Hoping for another NED result! Reese‘s port...
Team Reese T-Shirts
In case anyone is interested in purchasing Team Reese t-shirts we relaunched the campaign. All proceeds will be donated to the Pediatric...
Happy 10th Birthday Reese!
Hi everyone! Last Friday we celebrated Reese's 10th birthday by taking an RV trip to Jellystone Park in Wisconsin. The boys had a blast...
Home: Blog2
bottom of page