Kevin Patrick Freeman Memorial Fund
Purpose
In 2006, when he was 9, Kevin was diagnosed with medulloblastoma - a malignant brain tumor. We quickly learned that brain tumors are the second most common pediatric cancer (behind leukemia) and account for a majority of cancer-related deaths in children. Unfortunately, pediatric cancer treatment (like chemotherapy and radiation) lead to significant long-term disabilities in survivors, which affects their quality of life and ability to be successful. Kevin was severely impacted by his various treatments, but he soldiered on. Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and carries an overall initial survival rate of about 75%. However, chances of survival after relapse are less than 20%, and become even less and less with each relapse. Kevin relapsed in 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018. Finally, his cancer spread beyond his brain and led to his unfortunate passing on February 21, 2020. In honor of Kevin’s memory, we have established this memorial fund to support causes that further cancer research, help those affected by cancer, and are otherwise aligned with Kevin’s interests. Thank you for supporting the memory of Kevin. Donations of any amount are gladly welcome. Please also consider donating platelets or blood to your nearest pediatric hospital or blood bank. It is not unusual for cancer patients to need blood product support. In the last several months of his life, Kevin required many platelet and blood transfusions as his body was unable to keep up production. There were several times when the hospital did not have platelets to give Kevin even though his counts were dangerously low. We believe this led to him having complications such as a brain bleed that cost him the ability to communicate in the last weeks of his life. As is mentioned above, we will be directing money from this fund to causes that further cancer research, help those affected by cancer, and are otherwise aligned with Kevin's interests.
In 2006, when he was 9, Kevin was diagnosed with medulloblastoma - a malignant brain tumor. We quickly learned that brain tumors are the second most common pediatric cancer (behind leukemia) and account for a majority of cancer-related deaths in children. Unfortunately, pediatric cancer treatment (like chemotherapy and radiation) lead to significant long-term disabilities in survivors, which affects their quality of life and ability to be successful. Kevin was severely impacted by his various treatments, but he soldiered on. Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and carries an overall initial survival rate of about 75%. However, chances of survival after relapse are less than 20%, and become even less and less with each relapse. Kevin relapsed in 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018. Finally, his cancer spread beyond his brain and led to his unfortunate passing on February 21, 2020. In honor of Kevin’s memory, we have established this memorial fund to support causes that further cancer research, help those affected by cancer, and are otherwise aligned with Kevin’s interests. Thank you for supporting the memory of Kevin. Donations of any amount are gladly welcome. Please also consider donating platelets or blood to your nearest pediatric hospital or blood bank. It is not unusual for cancer patients to need blood product support. In the last several months of his life, Kevin required many platelet and blood transfusions as his body was unable to keep up production. There were several times when the hospital did not have platelets to give Kevin even though his counts were dangerously low. We believe this led to him having complications such as a brain bleed that cost him the ability to communicate in the last weeks of his life. As is mentioned above, we will be directing money from this fund to causes that further cancer research, help those affected by cancer, and are otherwise aligned with Kevin's interests.