Joseph’s Journey Against Glioblastoma

04/12/2026

Update: Joseph has an upcoming appointment to UCSF on the 24th of this month! His family needs your help as their family vehicle still has not been fully fixed. There isn’t a single set amount. There are several factors involved, including necessary truck repairs, the cost of traveling to and from San Francisco, food along the way, and at least one night in a hotel for his mom, little sister, and himself. All of these pieces are essential.�Joseph has been experiencing significant head pain and struggling with tics as a result of the pressure caused by an active cyst in his sinus cavity. Even with pain management, he’s been struggling daily, and it’s deeply affecting his sleep. A recap of his story: in January of 2022, 16 year old Joseph was given less than a year to live after being diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. His fight is far from over, and the fact that he is still here is nothing short of a miracle. If you’re able to help in any way, donations can be made through GoFundMe (QR code or link in bio/stories) or via Cash App.
Thank you for standing with Joseph and his family 💚

🔗 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/vcw5g-josephs-journey

Cash App: $17buttons

Facebook: Joseph’s Journey Against Glioblastoma

Hello, My name is Matilda Brown.. For the past 6 months my 16 year old son Joseph had been complaining … Matilda Brown needs your support for Joseph's Journey

04/12/2026

04/12/2026

If you're new here, welcome. And if you've been following us for a while, this one's worth a reshare.

AYA cancer — adolescent and young adult cancer — affects people between the ages of 15 and 39. It's a category that often falls through the cracks: too old for pediatric programs, too young to fit neatly into the adult cancer experience. The resources, the research, and the emotional support often just aren't designed with this age group in mind.

That's the gap Jabs for Life exists to help close. This April, for AYA Cancer Awareness Month, we'll be sharing information, resources, and ways to support the AYA cancer community throughout the month. Follow along and share with someone who might need it.

04/12/2026

Update: Joseph has an upcoming appointment to UCSF on the 24th of this month! His family needs your help as their family vehicle still has not been fully fixed. There isn’t a single set amount. There are several factors involved, including necessary truck repairs, the cost of traveling to and from San Francisco, food along the way, and at least one night in a hotel for his mom, little sister, and himself. All of these pieces are essential.�Joseph has been experiencing significant head pain and struggling with tics as a result of the pressure caused by an active cyst in his sinus cavity. Even with pain management, he’s been struggling daily, and it’s deeply affecting his sleep. A recap of his story: in January of 2022, 16 year old Joseph was given less than a year to live after being diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. His fight is far from over, and the fact that he is still here is nothing short of a miracle. If you’re able to help in any way, donations can be made through GoFundMe (QR code or link in bio/stories) or via Cash App.
Thank you for standing with Joseph and his family 💚

🔗 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/vcw5g-josephs-journey

Cash App: $17buttons

Facebook: Joseph’s Journey Against Glioblastoma

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

We rang the bell. And somehow, this is still our reality...

People clapped. Nurses cried. We took pictures. We said thank you and meant it. Our girl was alive.

And then we went home.
And the bills kept coming.

The credit cards. The missed work. The drained savings. The medical statements that still show up months - sometimes years - later.

No more meal trains. No more fundraisers. No more “how can we help?”

Just real life. And a bank account that hasn’t recovered.

Here’s what no one says out loud:
Financial stress after childhood cancer is traumatic.
Your nervous system is already fried. You’re already exhausted. You’re already carrying fear about relapse. And now you’re making decisions about rent, insurance, debt, and career gaps from a brain that’s still in survival mode.

It's near impossible. I have cancer mom friends who have faced eviction, who have lost cars. Friends who can't pay the monthly bills, never mind catch up.

Money after cancer isn’t just math. It’s trauma layered with pressure layered with shame.

The financial aftershock lasts long after treatment ends.

What changed for your family after treatment ended?
Let’s be honest about it.

04/04/2026

One in four families lose more than 40% of their annual income because of childhood cancer. And one in three face major work disruptions like quitting jobs or changing careers.

Childhood cancer doesn't just impact health, it impacts entire families. Click this link to provide support through The B+ Foundation: https://bit.ly/3ZhqZuJ

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Month reminds us that childhood cancer doesn’t only affect young children. It also impacts teens and young adults navigating some of life’s most defining years.

A cancer diagnosis between the ages of 15 and 39 comes with unique challenges. From school and careers to relationships and independence, AYA patients face complex medical, emotional, and quality-of-life concerns that require specialized, compassionate care.

For teens like Christopher, cancer was the last thing he expected. His mother, Erika, shares their story:

“He was finishing up his junior year in high school when we got the dreaded call. We were heartbroken, distraught, and shocked. We discovered the lump in his neck back in February. It took months to get a follow-up after an emergency visit and then a biopsy. Three weeks later, the biopsy came back, and it was indeed cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma on June 2, 2025.

He was admitted to the hospital, and everything was a whirlwind from there on. He was there for 12 days. It was so much to endure in such a short time. There were scans, X-rays, countless blood draws, treatment plans, and PIC lines. There were also emotional feelings, another son to take care of, messages and phone calls going unanswered, little sleep, over-stimulation, but mostly, we were scared.

They started chemo in the hospital. Treatment started off okay, but progressed over the weeks. He went from being an active and busy student to barely walking a couple of blocks and feeling completely winded. His hair fell out, and blood counts started dropping, so outings became almost nonexistent.

Christopher had incredible support from his teammates, community, and family. He has been so positive throughout this entire process. The side effects didn't even keep him down. He has so much faith that this will be over soon, and he will once again go back to his normal life. He's done three cycles so far and started radiation recently. He is hopeful, positive, and in good spirits.
The NCCS has been such a great place for talking to someone who is caring and understanding about our situation. We have received lots of information on some pretty great resources and even received some help to get us to and from treatment over the last few months. We are truly grateful and appreciative of the help the NCCS gives to families like ours in such difficult times.”
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At The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS), we are proud to support adolescent and young adult cancer warriors every step of the way. From diagnosis through survivorship, we are there, providing transportation and emergency assistance, emotional support, and educational resources to help families feel supported. Because no matter their age, no one should have to face cancer alone. 💛

Learn more and access resources: theNCCS.org

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

Awareness matters 🤍

Because it leads to more understanding,
more research, and more support for the kids and families who need it most.

We will never stop advocating and fighting for Brooks and for the children just like him 🤍🎗️