The week before Christmas 2009, Brendan celebrated his 9th birthday but was noticeably tired. He continued to be tired during Christmas vacation, and finally on December 30 his mom took him to his pediatrician for a simple blood test. She said, “I was convinced he was anemic since he refused to eat vegetables.”
 
After a quick finger-prick blood test, the nurse returned less than five minutes later and told them there were some troubling test results and they had to go to Children's Hospital in Boston where a team was waiting for them in the emergency room. Brendan’s mom followed her out of the room and asked her if she thought Brendan had cancer, and the nurse said it was a very strong possibility. Brendan’s mom asked if she could stop off to pick up her husband and was told to be as quick as possible.
 
As soon as Brendan and his parents arrived in the busy hospital waiting room, they were instantly taken back into a room with doctors, nurses and Child Life specialists waiting. Brendan had blood drawn, and after a two-hour wait, his parents received the life-changing news that their son had cancer.
 
Brendan underwent 25 months of chemotherapy – 680 doses, 23 lumber punctures and bone marrow biopsies, 296 doses of steroids, and a g-tube. His mom said, “No matter how awful things got (and they did get awful), he did what we needed him to do and did it without a complaint and always with a smile.”
 
Now 13 and in remission, Brendan likes building with LEGOS, playing video games and going to Red Sox games. His parents hope that Brendan finds happiness in whatever he chooses to do, and are so grateful he has a chance at a future.
 
For his diagnosis anniversaries, Brendan has collected donations of iTunes gift cards and Pillow Pets to give to patients in the oncology unit where he was first treated. He has also spoken about his cancer experiences in his region as a Hero Ambassador for ALSF. Knowing how important pediatric cancer research is, Brendan has been involved in fundraising and would like to start his own foundation someday.
 
Hero Quote: “Never Give Up”
 
Information provided by Alexis Barrie, Brendan’s mom
April 2014