Thumbs Up Fund To Honor Brett Haubrich

Brett Haubrich is a sweet and kind 13 year old boy.

In the summer of 2014, school had just let out and he was looking forward to a summer of baseball and hanging out at the pool. He looked forward to playing football, his favorite sport, in the fall. He had just finished 5th grade. He turned 11 the end of May, and that is when his headaches began. Terrible headaches that became worse. It was dismissed as a virus and finally was diagnosed mid-June 2014 as a grade 3 brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. The fun summer of plans was replaced with an unscheduled detour into the world of childhood cancer. Surgery for hydrocephalus was first up and a much needed biopsy. The tumor was very deep in the brain in the thalamus. Thanks to his wonderful neurosurgeon, Dr. David Limbrick at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, MO, a biopsy was made. We were all shocked to find out a grade 3 tumor the size of a golf ball was in Brett's brain. Inoperable, we tried very hard to find a good treatment plan.

We were stunned to find there was a standard of care that was not very successful with brain tumors. He began proton radiation in St. Louis. He started chemotherapy. He was sick for a week each month due to the chemo. He completed his year and the tumor responded very well. However, only one month off treatment, the tumor began growing in October 2015. He was enrolled in a clinical trial at St. Louis Childrens Hospital in January 2016. It involved a new MRI laser ablation surgery done by Dr. Limbrick and Dr. Leuthardt. Brett was one of the first kids to receive this new procedure. He also had a clinical trial chemotherapy. The response was good. However, some tumor was left behind due to being too close to the motor tracks. This portion started to grow in April 2016. The surgery was repeated, yet riskier. Doctors were amazed, though, that Brett could still walk after surgery. He walked with a limp with right-sided arm and leg weakness. We are grateful for every moment we had with him. We lived scan to scan. We prayed hard all the time for no new growth.

Brett was a kind boy. His Make-a-Wish was to be a priest for a day. He enjoyed making others happy more than anything. He was a big Packers fan and his favorite trip was being at Lambeau Field in 2015. The Thumbs Up Fund was named after Brett's symbol of hope and happiness. He gave a thumbs up in many pictures since he was little. It's a symbol easily associated with him. We would like to raise money for research for tumors like Brett's so other families have more options and a cure. Team Brett has participated in fundraising for St. Baldricks since 2015.

Each year they raise at least $10,000. Even though Brett did not like losing his hair with treatment, he bravely shaved it to help others. His team is made up of parents and students and friends of Brett's that want to help raise money for research for a cure.