Brett was born on December 23, 2006 as a healthy little boy full of life, love and character. Now, several years later, Brett has fought the battle of a lifetime.

In March 2008, his parents noticed some spotting in his diaper. His pediatrician sent them for an ultrasound right away, and after waiting three hours, they were told that doctors couldn’t find Brett’s right kidney. The pediatrician then said to take Brett to the ER at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Crying their eyes out in fear, Brett’s parents headed out, no clue of what was to come.

Brett had several tests done at the ER and completed a CAT scan at about one in the morning. By three AM, doctors informed Brett’s family that he had an aggressive cancer that needed to be treated immediately.

The next day, Brett was admitted, and oncologists discussed his treatment plan. Fifteen-month-old Brett completed a biopsy, began 28 weeks of chemotherapy, and had surgery to plant his port into his chest. With a 13cm-sized tumor, he was formally diagnosed with Stage III Wilms tumor. On May 7, 2008, Brett had his entire right kidney removed along with six lymph nodes, three of which were also infected. Then on May 15, 2008, he began radiation treatments as well.

During his time at the hospital, Brett’s nurses nicknamed him "the little cherub" due to his sweet personality and big brown eyes.

Unfortunately, just as Brett’s family thought he was gaining some ground in June, they had to rush him back to the ER for a distended stomach. Then there was a complication with surgery – he couldn’t eat anything by mouth and needed complete “gut rest” to allow a hole in a lymph vessel to heal, something too microscopic and risky to fix through surgery. Brett was on IV infusions receiving nutrients through his blood stream while hospitalized for another month. “If you can imagine keeping an 18-month-old from eating or drinking while they are still having hunger pains… it was quite difficult!” said Shannon, Brett’s mom.

Upon discharge a few weeks later, Shannon learned how to insert a feeding tube and work the feeding machine so that Brett could be sent home on IV infusions. This would be his only source of food until July, when Brett was given the “ok” to try nonfat foods. His parents were told to "beef him up", so he was permitted to eat pretty much whatever he wanted. Brett was definitely loving this plan, and finally began putting on healthy weight, leaving the hospital at 14 pounds.

From there, Brett continued chemo every three weeks, with weekly check-ups on the surgery complication. On September 3, he was told he no longer needed weekly visits. On September 24, he received his last does of chemo. By October 17, Brett was announced as “in remission or NED (showing No Evidence of Disease) to those in this cancer world" – music to his parents’ ears!

Brett continued to be monitored and tested every three months until age 5, then every six months until age 8 and annually ever since. “It's been a long, rough road,” said Shannon. “But we are so blessed to say Brett is now a young man about to graduate his senior year of high school, and we are college hunting!”

We just ask to please keep him and all other children warriors in your thoughts and prayers.

Today, Brett does a lot of work spreading awareness and raising funds for childhood cancer research. He has donated pieces of his removed cancer and blood work for research studies to help illuminate risk factors that may be present in these cancers. He is supported by many loved ones through his support team, "Little Angel Brett" (keeping the wonderful nickname given by his nurses when he was a baby).

“Brett's our hero and one hell of a fighter!” said Shannon. “Please continue to spread awareness and raise funds for research, our children deserve it!”

Information provided by Shannon S., Brett’s mom
Updated April 2025