KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff7 year old battles brain cancer while helping others

7 year old battles brain cancer while helping others

By Julia Bruck - bio | email

VERGENNES, IL (KFVS) - Each year about 3500 kids are diagnosed with a brain tumor in the United States.  More than 70 of those are at St. Louis Children's Hospital.  One of those kids is Benjamin Robinson.  He lives in Vergennes, in Jackson County and his friends call him "Ben the Brave."

A piñata and candy are both signs of a birthday party.  However, this is not a party celebrating another year, rather one to help save Benjamin Robinson's life.

"I didn't know I hit it," Ben said.

Last spring his mom, Shelly, says Ben complained of a headache and started throwing up.

"We thought he had the stomach flu," Shelly said.

However, it was worse.

"They ran a CAT scan and about 11 o'clock that night she came in and told us he had a mast on the back of his brain," Shelly added.

That was May 1.

"We'll never be the same people that were before," Shelly added.

Ben and his mom Shelly arrived at the emergency room at St. Louis Children's Hospital by ambulance.  Not long after their arrival, they met Pediatric Neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Leonard.

"You can see this white stuff here," Dr. Leonard said as he pointed to Ben's brain scan.  "All this is dark stuff is also the tumor."

Immediately doctors removed the cancerous tumor, which had grown to about the size of a golf ball.

"It almost seems like that day was just a blur really.  I mean all you did was wait for the phone to ring," Shelly explained.

Ben had a Medulloblastoma, the most common type of brain tumor.  It grows in the portion of the brain that controls muscular movements.  It is often found in children under the age of 10 and is slightly more common in boys, just like Ben.

"This is something these kids will be following and fighting for many, many years.  It starts with the effects of surgery.  Then it continues with the effects of radiation," Dr. Leonard said.

For Ben that meant problems walking, eating and seeing.

"We didn't know what was in store for us when we first got here, but I just know now we don't have to stay, I think that's the best part," Shelly said between tears.

Heartland News joined Ben, Shelly, Grandma Janet, and little sister Jenna for a recent long day of appointments.  It was their first time back since Ben left the hospital in mid June.  The morning started out a with visit to Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Michael Noetzel.

"His balance seems to be at least 50 percent better," Dr. Noetzel said.  "He's clearly making progress and doing nice things.  So I'm real please."

Then reluctantly, Ben headed off to an MRI appointment.

"Ok you are going to start hearing the noises," said Radiologist Technologist Margaret Barham over the speaker system.

For the next two hours, more than 1600 pictures were taken of Ben's head and spine.

"This is Benjamin's most recent MRI," Dr. Leonard said as he looked at the image.  "And there is no evidence of enhancement.  So overall I think he's done very well and he's currently progressing nicely."

To help other children, Ben along with more than 100 other kids are involved in a collaborative study through Washington University and Children's Hospital.  One of those leading the study is Dr. Leonard.  The goal is to answer the question why these children are faced with pediatric brain cancer.

"What we do is look for genes and we look for tissues behavior when we culture them," Dr. Leonard explained.

Dr. Leonard says he hopes the research eventually puts him out of business.  Something Shelly also would like to see.  However, until that day, those like Ben the Brave and his family continue to fight, one-step at a time.

"We just kind of wait, watch, and live," Shelly said. 

Ben and his mom recently returned home from another round of chemotherapy treatment.  Shelly says he will receive those shots for another nine months.

Meanwhile a fund has been set up to help with Ben's medical expenses.  Donations can be made at Regions Bank in Du Quoin.  By the way, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

©2009 KFVS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.