Casen has a big personality and loves dinosaurs, dogs and playing outside. Before his diagnosis, he had a stomach bug that he couldn’t seem to kick. His parents took him to the doctor, who said to come back in a few days for a weight check-up. That was when Casen’s doctor felt a mass in his abdomen.

He was immediately referred to Prisma Health Children's Hospital in South Carolina. While there, Casen was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, and began a seven-hour surgery followed by two rounds of chemotherapy.

Today, Casen has no evidence of disease (NED) and is a happy 6-year-old! He now has a brother and sister, plays soccer, and is starting football in the fall.

Casen’s parents hope that he continues to have good health and achieve all his dreams. His strength impacted his mom, Jessica, immensely. “He taught me more about myself than I thought was possible,” she said. “He taught me the meaning of life.”

Jessica’s advice for others who may also be experiencing a childhood cancer diagnosis is to take things day by day while understanding some days will be harder than others. But as ambassadors for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), she and Casen know there is hope. To them, ALSF reminds them that there are people out there making a real difference in the lives of those facing childhood cancer.

Information provided by Casen’s mom, Jessica Tonstad
Updated June, 2024