Wes was born in Newport News, VA two weeks early on December 21, 2005. He is a fun-loving, intelligent, and compassionate young boy with the faith like no other. He enjoys soldiers, star wars, and anything involving animals/bugs. He became a big brother on March 13, 2011. He enjoys playing with his two Chihuahuas (Marley and Mixie).  Up until June 24, 2011, Wes was an extremely healthy boy, hardly even having as much as an ear infection. Shortly after graduating from preschool in May 2011 he began to feel abdominal pain and his appetite grew smaller and smaller. After being told it was constipation, we took him in to his pediatrician two weeks later. An x-ray revealed a mass of some kind in his left abdomen, and we were soon sent to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, VA. There we were informed our five year old son had a large mass in his left side that had been pushing on all of his inside organs causing him to feel full. They named it stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. Soft tissue was found on one of his lymph nodes later bumping him to the low end of stage 4.
 
To me, a hero is someone that inspires and motivates others to carry on even when the odds are against them. My little boy, Wes, has always been a hero, even before falling ill. Ever since a young toddler he has been loving, compassionate, and an amazing believer in God. At just four years old, his heart broke for his little friend as he requested prayer for her mother to be healed from alcoholism. I had never witnessed a child so young that laid hands on someone and truly believed in his heart that God was going to take care of them until I watched my son. He provided encouragement to many when others just could not find the words. His faith still has not stopped even though just two weeks ago he was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. Despite the needles, transfusions, chemotherapy, and medication, he pushes forward. While his tumor takes up the majority of the left side bringing pain and causing him not to eat, he still manages to keep a smile on his face and laughter in the air. If he can smile despite his illness, why can't we? Wes' strength gives me the will to move forward. He is my inspiration, my motivation, my hero. Love, Mommy
 
Wes’s quote: "I am going to be done early” (Wes referring to how long he is going to "have cancer").

Website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/wespak
 
Written by Krista Pak, Wes’s Mom
October 2011

Update, Summer 2015: Wes relapsed 2/4/14, had 5 cycles of chemo and eventually surgery to remove the cancer. He enrolled in the humanized 3f8 trial where he had 4 cycles before relapsing a second time on 11/14/14. The doctors immediately did surgery to get him to NED Again. He completed 4 more Hu3f8 cycles and switched to the vaccine trial at Sloan where he had 3 injections before scans revealed his third relapse this past Friday 6/5/15. Wes will soon be starting more chemo as we begin to fight his 4th battle.

Information provided by Krista Pak, Wes’ Mom