On December 6 , 2007 we driving to CHOP to check out Mario's arm. We thought he may have sprained it because he wasn't using it. As we entered the ER they took us right back. They did some tests & a CAT Scan. As we waited by Mario's bed side we were awakened by a team of doctors. I will never forget the look they had on their faces. They told us Mario had a brain tumor. We looked at them & asked them if they were in correct room. I felt like we were in nightmare. It didn't seem possible. Mario never complained of headaches. They admitted him right away. The next day they did a MRI. The news kept getting worse. The MRI showed 4 inoperable brain tumors. It showed a huge mass in Mario's brain stem. They told us that there wasn't anything they could do & that he had 3 months to live. Our whole world changed in a blink of an eye. 

After pleading with the doctors for a biopsy they agreed to biopsy one of the tumors. The team of doctors decided  to try one of the strongest chemotherapy.  After three months of chemo the tumors started to SLOWLY shrink. There was hope. We were so happy . After three more months they were SLOWLY shrinking again. The chemo that Mario was on was so strong that you couldn't even hug him or lift him up due to all the nerve ending pain he had throughout his body.  It was so painful to watch him lay there. Mario ended up having 2 hip infections from the chemo. He couldn't walk and laid in the hospital for 2 weeks.  He had to walk with a walker & was in so much pain.  After a year & a half of chemo Mario's tumors were stable . They decided to stop treatment. After 1 year of being chemo free another tumor started to grow. The doctors started another treatment plan which was another year of chemo. We were almost at one year when another tumor started to grow. He couldn't catch a break. It seemed like this cycle was never ending for him. They switched his treatment again which included 3 different chemotherapy pills  & 1 intervenes one.  After a few months into this treatment he ended up getting an allergic reaction to one of the chemotherapy drugs.  With everything Mario has gown through he never complained.  After his treatment plan Mario's tumors remained Stable.  They decided to stop treatment.  Two weeks later he started to get seizers  & ended back in the hospital . It's been a tough battle for Mario.  It's been four  years that he has been chemo free . He gets scanned every four months to make sure his tumors remain stable.  His tumors has caused Mario to have vision loss, learning disabilities, left sided weakness, growth delays, and thyroid issues.  No matter what Mario has gone through, you will always see him smile. He is a true blessing & is always trying to make others smile. We are truly grateful & blessed that his tumors remain stable. We continue to pray that they will remain stable.  Please find it in your heart to give back and donate. Mario keeps loosing so many friends to cancer and it has to stop. It can stop if we all come together and donate so a cure can be found .