On April 23, 2010, Mason was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare, inoperable brain stem tumor. He is currently undergoing treatment and will return to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He is almost finished with a 22-week treatment program (radiation and experimental chemo). Instead of finishing the third grade and starting his summer at the pool, he was undergoing radiation and daily doctor visits. We are blessed and thankful for St. Jude and their commitment to finding cures for childhood cancer.

Mason is a fourth-grader at Brookridge Elementary School in Overland Park. He enjoys school, Boy Scouts, swimming, rock collecting and playing with friends. He dreams of being a scientist someday. He also hopes to play basketball this fall. He is very proud to have finished his first 5k with Head for the Cure. As a family, we are excited to expand our team, “Racin’ for Mason,” next year. We encourage others to join and hope to spread awareness of brain cancer and childhood cancer. You can follow Mason’s story at www.masonarik.blogspot.com. Our family motto is “Celebrate Today.”

Mason lost his battle with brain cancer on March 29, 2011