Daylen was diagnosed with DIPG in January of 2019, just three months after becoming a father. The plan of attack to treat the cancer was 30 rounds of radiation and a year of oral chemotherapy. We were elated when we found out that the tumor had shrunk and had remained stable.

Daylen went on with his life, living each day to the fullest. He never let his cancer diagnosis define him. His positive outlook helped everyone around him forget that he had terminal brain cancer.

In late April of 2021, we were told his cancer “exploded”. We were heartbroken. He was in and out of the hospital numerous times. He had an internal shunt implanted, he lost his gross motor skills, his speech was slurred, and swallowing became increasingly difficult. But he never stopped smiling.

We had a small glimmer of hope when he had the opportunity to undergo whole re-radiation. He seemed to regain strength; he even got in the pool.

On September 20, 2021, things took a turn for the worse. Daylen began to lose motor control and feeling in his arms and legs. He had an MRI in the hospital and that revealed that the cancer had traveled down his spine, essentially paralyzing him. Daylen took his last breath at 4:30 pm on September 22, 2021. He was 23. We donated his brain tissue to a Stanford University for research. The Do It For Daylen fund will help continue to fund important research so that a cure can be found. In our eyes, Daylen is a hero. He will always be remembered as one.

Do It For Daylen Fund

Fighting Childhood Cancer Together in Honor of Daylen