The Faces of Brain Tumors
Daniel Schiaffo
Written by his Parents
Medulloblastoma
Diagnosed April 8, 1998
March 19, 1990 - May 29, 2000
On April 8th, 1998, our only child Daniel Schiaffo was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. He was operated on April 11th and 95% of the tumor was removed. Over the next year he went through 31 days of radiation as well as chemotherapy. On April 11th of 1999 he had his last chemo treatment and for the following eight months he was cancer free.
A routine MRI in December of that year revealed that the cancer had come back. This time in the left side of his brain. He had to endure four months of intense chemo, which at one point appeared to be working. The tumor appeared to be gone when time came for a stem cell transplant. This was his only option and this procedure is yet unproven in the fight against brain tumors. Four days in the procedure his body gave out. He was just ten years old.
Daniel showed us what the meaning of courage was as well as the meaning of dignity. His mother and I know that there is an answer out there for this dreaded disease. All we need to do is find it.
Daniel wrote an award-winning essay that has become his legacy and I know he would want everyone to be inspired by it. It is titled "Anything is Possible."
First I had to get out of bed and learn to walk again. I started to use a walker and didn’t want to use it, so I learned how to walk without it. I practiced hard and got stronger and stronger. I learned how to talk again and I got glasses to help my eyesight.
Once I did all these things, I had to start my radiation treatments. I had 31 of them. The treatments made my hair fall out.
Next I started my chemotherapy. I had 11 treatments. The chemo made me feel sick and tired, and I didn’t feel like eating.
But I was determined to get better. Soon all my treatments were over. I started feeling better and my hair started to grow back. My doctors said my cancer was all gone. Anything is possible, I fought cancer and won!
Daniel may have lost his battle with cancer but he would want everyone that reads these words to come away with a feeling of hope and inspiration and a strong belief that despite all odds...ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!