Adam is a funny, caring, and independent 14-year-old. He has always had a special connection with animals and absolutely loves his cats. He is a huge Pokémon fan and loves gaming and spending time with his friends. More than anything, Adam is a kindhearted kid who cares deeply about the people and animals around him.

He also has a quick sense of humor and manages to make his family laugh even during long days in the hospital. Adam has wanted to become a paramedic for years, and his own experiences with EMTs, paramedics, and medical teams throughout his cancer journey have only made him more certain that this is what he wants to do someday.

Adam's diagnosis came completely out of nowhere. In late July 2026, he suddenly started experiencing double vision. His mom, Lisa, took him to the optometrist, where they were told it was likely a migraine. It continued throughout the weekend, and then on Monday they went to the emergency room. They were told that he was probably just stressed about starting high school, but by the next day Adam was no longer able to see or walk. His primary doctor sent him for an emergency MRI. This finally revealed a mass in Adam’s brain that was blocking the flow of fluid and causing hydrocephalus.

“I remember that within the first couple of days I was waiting to just wake up and realize it was all a dream,” said Adam.

Everything changed incredibly quickly after that. Adam was admitted to the ICU and underwent brain surgery to relieve the pressure. After a biopsy, Adam and his family soon learned that this wasn't just one isolated tumor – there were multiple areas of cancer throughout his brain, including the pineal and pituitary regions, as well as spread along his spine. He was diagnosed with a metastatic nongerminomatous germ cell tumor in his brain and spinal region.

Just days earlier, Adam had been a healthy, active 14-year-old getting ready to start his freshman year of high school. Suddenly, instead of worrying about his first day of school, he was facing brain surgery followed by months of chemotherapy and radiation.

Today, Adam is undergoing an intensive 18-week chemotherapy regimen consisting of six cycles, with frequent inpatient hospital stays. After chemotherapy, he is expected to have a four-week break before beginning six weeks of radiation at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Because his cancer has spread throughout his brain and along his spine, his radiation treatment will need to address both his brain and spinal disease. His entire treatment journey will span many months, with continued scans, bloodwork, tumor-marker monitoring, and follow-up care along the way.

For Lisa, her biggest hope is simply that Adam gets the chance to grow up.

“I pray that he not only survives this cancer, but comes through treatment with little to no permanent damage to his brain and is able to live the full life he had planned before any of this happened,” she said. “I want to watch him go back to school, get his driver's license, graduate, fall in love, and figure out who he is meant to become.

“I want to see him pursue his dream of becoming a paramedic and someday be the person helping someone else through the scariest day of their life. I hope cancer eventually becomes something that happened to him, rather than something that defines him. As his mom, I dream of the day when my biggest worries about Adam are ordinary teenage and parenting worries again. More than anything, I just want my son to have a long, happy, healthy life and every opportunity to become the person he was meant to be.”

Adam is Lisa’s hero because she has watched him face things at 14 that most adults could not imagine. How can you, in a matter of months, go from worrying about high school to undergoing brain surgery and cancer treatment?

“What amazes me most is how appreciative he remains through all of this,” said Lisa. “He notices every person who helps him, every gift, every kind gesture, and never takes any of it for granted. Even while going through the hardest experience of his life, he is genuinely grateful for the people surrounding and supporting him. He doesn't pretend that he isn't scared or that this isn't hard, but he keeps going anyway. His courage, gratitude, humor, and determination make me incredibly proud to be his mom, and he will forever be my hero.”

To other families who might be facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, Lisa shares: “You do not have to figure everything out the day you hear the word cancer. I tried. I wanted every answer, every statistic, and a plan for every possible outcome. I quickly learned that this journey is sometimes not even day by day—it is hour by hour. You deal with what is directly in front of you, and then you deal with the next thing.

“Also, let people help you. This was hard for me, but I have learned that when someone offers to bring food, send a gift card, mow the lawn, or just listen to you vent; let them. You cannot do this alone, and you don't need to prove that you can. There will be terrifying moments, but there will also be laughter in hospital rooms, good lab results that feel like winning the lottery, and kindness from people you barely know. Celebrate every little victory. We are still very much in the middle of Adam's journey, and I certainly don't have it all figured out. I'm just learning to take it hour by hour, accept the help, and hold onto hope wherever I can find it.”

Having the experiences with childhood cancer that their family has had, Lisa looks at everything differently, including the future of kids like Adam fighting the disease. “Before Adam was diagnosed, I never understood how much a cancer diagnosis affects every part of a child's life and their entire family,” said Lisa. “Now, research into safer and more effective treatments feels incredibly personal. I want Adam to survive, but I also want him to have the best possible life after cancer. Knowing there are people working toward both of those goals gives me hope, not only for Adam, but for every family who will unfortunately find themselves on this journey after us.”

To Lisa, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation represents hope. Hope that someday families won't have to hear the words "your child has cancer," and hope that if they do, there will be better treatments with fewer lifelong consequences.

Information provided by Lisa H., Adam’s mom
Updated September 2026