Kai is the epitome of love and joy and everything that is good in this world. He would brighten the day of anyone who crossed his path, with his beautiful smile, contagious laugh, or a simple wave. We will never understand why he got cancer. But it happened; at the tender age of six. A month in the hospital trying to figure out and control constant vomiting. A month doing physical therapy for the pain in his neck. Months of tests, labs, medication, discomfort, and uncertainty. A moment of piercing pain and a rush to the ER. A CT scan. A mass in his head. Emergency surgery #1. Emergency surgery #2. A diagnosis - cancer, brain, aggressive. A tumultuous month of recovery. Relearning how to eat, lift his head, stand up, walk, talk. A relocation overseas for further treatment. Thirty-three sessions of radiation to the brain. Nausea. Vomiting. Weight loss. Balance issues... 

…and then some calm, some regularity; back in school; making strides with his Autism; relearning how to ride a bike; traveling back home. Three years of semi-normalcy. Only for cancer to rear its ugly head again. And then again the following year. And then again a few months later. Relentless. 

On August 26, 2025, after valiantly battling brain cancer for 6+ years (half of his life), our beautiful Kai took his last breath. He was 12 years old; just shy of becoming a teenager as he was so looking forward to. Gone too soon. Way too soon. 

Still, we are grateful for the time he had on this earth to give and experience joy for six years more than expected after his diagnosis. MSK helped make this happen. In addition to traditional therapies, immunotherapies, and clinical trials that showed promise, Kai was cared for throughout by a team who we consider extended family. From the moment he entered the lobby, a high-five from the security guard; a warm welcoming “Hi Kai!” from the receptionists; nurses practically fighting over who would get to care for him that day; physical and occupational therapists excited to work with him in the gym; highly-skilled doctors and NPs with genuine bedside manner taking time to field our many questions; and ChildLife custom-decorating his hospital room during extended stays and always remembering his favorite color, games, books, and to bring a keyboard to his bedside! Kai was never afraid to go to MSK. He actually looked forward to it. He felt comfortable there. 

Kai was not able to be saved from this awful disease. But there were sparks of progress. We believe the science is getting there and we encourage others to help the MSK community fine-tune quality of life measures and innovative treatments and find a cure, so future kids like Kai can survive and thrive…