
Endless Smiles Foundation
Greyson

Greyson
Greyson was 2 when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms in nerve tissue. “It’s scary, and it is rough...very rough,” Greyson’s mom said, when asked about how she has been dealing with the challenges that come with the disease. She never knew younger kids who had been diagnosed with cancer, and because of that, did not know what to expect.
A 2 year old Greyson would wake up one day with a very swollen jaw. Not expecting anything big, his family took him to the doctor, and would realize that this swollen jaw was a symptom of something bigger. Greyson was diagnosed with cancer, and after multiple blood tests, biopsies, and much more, doctors found that he had neuroblastoma in multiple parts of his body (the biggest part being in his liver).
Neuroblastoma is a cancer that forms in the nerves of a human body, and starts in the adrenal glands, endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones. Everybody is born with neuroblasts, but Greyson’s neuroblasts were not able to mature. This neural maturity would lead to mutations, thus leading to neuroblastoma. It is quite a rare cancer as well, but usually affects kids 5 and under (and are usually diagnosed around the age of 2).
Once the doctors got a vague idea of what Greyson’s body was undergoing, treatment ensued right after. Greyson would go through chemo and radiation therapy. Greyson currently has one round of chemo and immunotherapy, but he is pushing through!
Greyson does not fully understand the disease, as he is young, but he is aware of the fact that he has it and that he needs to go to the hospital and such. “If you did not know Greyson was sick, you would not be able to tell. This is the child that jumps on the couch and jumps on the bed….and that’s what has kept me going,” Greyson’s mom says when talking about what helped her get through this process. She hopes that Greyson can eventually become a person who can comfort others going through cancer.
She also hopes that pediatric cancer can one day receive the same amount of government funding as adult cancer does. “They deserve so much more than they get.” Greyson has pushed through the tribulations involving neuroblastoma, and has shown us that a positive outlook and a great attitude can get you through so much!