Rowan’s perseverance and resilience have made him wise beyond his years. He’s a funny and intelligent 12-year-old who’s known throughout his middle school for his kindness. Rowan loves playing trombone in his school band, playing cards, playing board games, playing his Nintendo Switch – anything that involves playing and being around people!

In August 2021, at around 8 years old, Rowan began periodically throwing up. His pediatrician tested him for diabetes, but it was negative, and a visit to Urgent Care gave him medicine, but nothing helped. He was visibly drained and looking gaunt by this point, so his mom, Charlan, brought him to the emergency room in search of answers while his dad, Bob, stayed home with Rowan’s little brother, Jacob. Despite a packed ER, Rowan was seen immediately, hooked up to fluids, and sent through what they called the “blue donut” for a CT scan. Charlan remembers Rowan sleeping peacefully when the doctor and a child life specialist broke the news of a golf ball-sized blockage in his brain.

A few hours later, Rowan received surgery. It took both an external ventricular drain and neurosurgery before Rowan was diagnosed with medulloblastoma.

For weeks, Rowan stayed in the hospital, learning how to walk and talk again. His next phase of treatment: six weeks of daily proton radiation therapy. Living in Atlanta meant that traffic getting to these necessary treatments was difficult to navigate. With the help of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s (ALSF) Travel For Care program, Rowan was able to make it there every day without his family having to worry.

Along with radiation, Rowan began receiving chemotherapy through a port. These cycles took a little over a year to complete, and he had his port removed on Veterans Day in 2022. Rowan’s family thought they were done with active treatment.

Unfortunately, Rowan had a complication from the proton radiation that showed up by his Halloween MRI in 2023: a blotch in his left frontal lobe. The brain tumor Rowan faced this time: a high-grade glioma.

In a pattern similar to his first round of treatments, Rowan underwent neurosurgery right before Christmas to remove as much of the physical tumor as possible, followed by six weeks of daily radiation therapy, then oral chemotherapy. At this time, he was also tested for genetic conditions. Rowan’s doctors made the important discovery that he was born with an unusual genetic predisposition to developing cancerous tumors called Li Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). In Rowan’s case, this means his body tends to create brain tumors.

For a while, Rowan caught a break and thrived beyond the critical 9-12 month period following a high-grade glioma diagnosis. He started the sixth grade and sailed through without any issues from his checkups until the end of January 2025. A few bright spots lit up his MRI, and by July, a couple had grown large enough for the neurosurgeon to biopsy.

Rowan had recurrent medulloblastoma.

A week later, Rowan was back in surgery to have a permanent shunt inserted to improve his quality of life. As soon as he could, Rowan returned to school to see his new teachers and now-seventh grade friends.

Today, Rowan is still fighting, figuring out next steps for continued treatment. He just finished four weeks of radiation, and his doctors are looking into immunotherapy options – they hope there is a clinical trial available that Rowan qualifies for.

Meanwhile, Bob and Charlan are hoping for a miracle. “Medical improvements of today are miracles in comparison to what was available even 25 years ago,” said Charlan. “I believe these are gifts from God delivered through people helping people. That Rowan has continued to not just survive but thrive beyond medulloblastoma at 8, a high-grade glioma at 10, and is currently making A’s and B’s in accelerated classes at 12 despite recurrent medulloblastoma is miraculous.”

Rowan is his family’s hero because he works hard and keeps going even when it hurts. He’s so determined to live life to the fullest – whether that’s ziplining through the trees with his little brother, hanging out with friends, hiking Blue Ridge mountains or taking a walk on the beach with his family, and so much more. His parents just know that Rowan has the potential of inspiring so many others facing similar challenges with his kindness, resilience, and spirit as he grows into a truly good man.

Charlan’s and Bob’s hearts go out to all families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, and they urge others not to be afraid of accepting help. Their family has made many wonderful friends who have given invaluable support throughout Rowan’s cancer journey. Utilizing resources from various organizations has helped with some of their family’s considerable challenges along the way. ALSF is one such organization.

“ALSF is a beacon of hope to anyone faced with a pediatric cancer diagnosis,” Charlan said. “Alex Scott and her family began this organization as a beautiful, earnest and heartbreaking example of people who make a good difference in this world. I hope the future of childhood cancer is nonexistent because the miracle cure for the root cause is discovered, developed and delivered to all who need it – as soon as possible.” 

Information provided by Charlan R., Rowan’s mom
Updated November 2025