Introducing the 2025 Kade's Klassic Family

Joe started complaining about headaches back in October of 24’. He’s an extremely active and energetic 4 year old little boy, so at first we didn’t think much about it. This went on for a few weeks before he would come to Jon and I more frequently and described it as “someone punching me in the head”. When it became a daily complaint, I would take him in to his primary Dr and it was continually pushed off as a sinus infection or pinched nerve. Fast forward to December and he started to vomit randomly and we noticed him becoming more lethargic and he wasn’t wanting to play as much with his little sister or Jon and I. I started noticing his eyes were drifting more, and his balance was lacking. I took him in to his primary again on January 17th and they ordered an MRI…for March 20th. I was told if anything changes before then to take him in to the ER. 

On January 23rd, we were down in our basement playing before Jon had to go to work and Joseph nearly fainted and got sick after jumping from our couch to a bean bag chair. Jon and I both agreed that it wasn’t normal so we took him in right away and thankfully the ER doctor agreed and a CT scan was ordered. They ended up finding a larger than golf ball sized tumor in his cerebellum which had caused hydrocephalus. An EVD was placed to remove the pressure in his brain so they could get a better MRI scan of what type of tumor we were dealing with. Dr. Lew (SO thankful to him) revealed that the tumor was most likely cancerous but that would be confirmed after the resection.

On January 27th, Joe went through an 11 hour surgery to remove his tumor and pathology confirmed it was cancerous (medulloblastoma). Joseph ended up having posterior fossa syndrome really bad after his surgery and spent 2 weeks recovering at children’s. 

The tumor he has is considered a grade 4 tumor and his sub level is 4. It was recommended to us that proton radiation is the safest/ and most affective radiation approach for his type of tumor. His case was sent to Mayo Clinic and they accepted him right away (Thank God).

Joe is currently going through 6 weeks of proton beam radiation- he does this 5 days a week, and also receives 1 infusion of chemo a week as well. On top of his treatments he also has PT and OT throughout the week to help with his side effects from posterior fossa. When he is done with radiation here at Mayo (April 18th) he will then start 9 rounds of chemo back at children’s which he starts May 16th. 

Through all of this he has continued to keep his spunky personality and sense of humor. He truly is the strongest little boy I know (I know I’m biased). His little sister Eleanor has been a trooper through all of this as well. 

I know I rambled a little bit, but our family is so grateful for this opportunity and we can’t thank Kades Klassic and your whole family for choosing Joseph as your recipient this year! We are very blessed and appreciate this so much.