The Bravery of a Hugs for Brady Cancer Warrior

Xander Denberg has been close to the heart of Hugs for Brady since inception of the foundation.

You see, Xander and Brady Wells were both diagnosed and treated during the same time at RWJ/BMS and CINJ. 

Matt and Katie Denberg first noticed something wrong with Xander when Xander started screaming, painfully, in his crib at night.  After many doctor visits, missed diagnosis' and ultrasound's, it was finally revealed that Xander had cancer, Stage 3, Neuroblastoma.  

After two rounds of chemotherapy scans revealed that Xander's disease was not responding to therapy.  When a parent hears that the cancer invading their child's body is not responding to traditional therapy, a horrifying situation becomes all the more horrifying.  

Matt and Katie Denberg had to make the tough decision to stop chemotherapy and put the life of their child in the hands of skilled surgeons at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NYC.  The goal was to get all visible disease out of Xander and pray. 

Xander, now 4-years-old, is a happy boy.  He does suffer from some issues related to the cancer itself and chemotherapy.  He has a syrinx due to the pressure of the tumor on his spine and dental issues due to the effects from the two rounds of chemotherapy he did receive.   

Please share Xander's story with your friends and family.  Hugs for Brady asks all friends and family to help them continue on the path to finding better treatments for children and, of course, ultimately a cure. 

Put your arms around someone to hug in honor of Xander today. 

Join the Hugs for Brady 5K on April 27 at: 
http://www.crowdrise.com/HugsforBrady5kFamilyFunRun 

Find us on Facebook at: 
https://www.facebook.com/HugsForBradyFoundation