Rally behind Adam

Adam is 14 and was diagnosed on July 28, 2026 with metastatic nongerminomatous germ cell cancer involving his brain and spine. His diagnosis came after doctors discovered a pineal tumor causing obstructive hydrocephalus, along with additional tumor involvement and spread through the lining of his brain and spinal cord.

He underwent brain surgery shortly after diagnosis to relieve the hydrocephalus and obtain a biopsy, and he is now in the middle of six cycles of intensive chemotherapy given approximately every three weeks. After chemotherapy, the plan is for Adam to receive about six weeks of radiation treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Through all of this, Adam has kept his sense of humor and his love of Pokémon, Legos, electronics, and gaming. As a single mom, I am doing everything I can to keep life as normal and joyful as possible for him while our family navigates the emotional, physical, and financial strain of pediatric cancer treatment.

Adam loves Legos and will often take sets apart just so he can rebuild them into something completely different. He collects Pokémon cards and is a huge Pokémon fan, especially Bulbasaur. He also loves VR, Xbox games, computers, electronics, and anything that lets him build, play, or figure out how something works. These are the things that help him relax, have fun, and still feel like himself during some very difficult days of treatment.

Absolutely — I’d highlight that because it’s a very specific interest that could help them personalize something for him.

Right now, Adam is really into Pokémon, especially Bulbasaur, and he loves collecting Pokémon cards. One of his favorite things is getting Pokémon cards signed by the voice actors who play the characters, which makes them especially meaningful to him. He also loves Legos, VR, Xbox games, computers, and electronics. Anything related to Pokémon, gaming, Legos, or technology is a big hit and gives him something fun to focus on during treatment.