Nick Fogu
To say that the last few months have been a roller coaster would be a huge understatement.
It was a wonderful time of new beginnings. The young family of five—Mom, Dad, six-year-old twins and Andrew (5), were just settling into their new home in Oswego, NY and celebrating the end of the school year with Andrew’s Kindergarten graduation. A joyful milestone marking the first of many years of learning ahead. Yet what was meant to be a celebration was tainted with concern as Andrew’s mother watched with a quiet sense that something wasn’t quite right with her child.
In the days that followed, Andrew began getting sick daily, but would bounce back, seemingly unaffected. Trips to the doctors led to suggestions to monitor symptoms and ultimately the exploration of allergies. Was it dairy that was causing this upset? Weeks passed as the family continued back and forth between appointments, tests and a CT scan, trying to determine what was causing Andrew’s symptoms.
Then one day Andrew’s mother knew something more severe was going on with her child as she noticed that when he looked straight, one of his eyes was crooked. This, coupled with the fact that Andrew was severely dehydrated from his ongoing battle with getting sick, brought the family to the Emergency Department at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital for answers.
An MRI revealed the unthinkable: a tumor. Andrew, now six, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
The family is very grateful to the caregiving team at Upstate, who ensured their journey was as comfortable and kid-friendly as could be.
The team at Upstate moved quickly. Andrew was admitted to the ICU where an External Ventricular Drain was placed to relieve the pressure in his head to prepare him for surgery to remove the tumor. He was placed in a medically induced coma, and the family was prepared for the worst. It was especially difficult to see their child intubated. To his family’s surprise, just two days after surgery, Andrew was up and alert, a moment his mother describes as setting the tone for his entire journey.
Andrew’s next phase of treatment included chemotherapy. When they removed the tumor in Andrew’s head, there were pieces left behind because they were so close to the artery supplying his brain. From November to March, Andrew called 11 G home for three weeks out of every month to receive his chemotherapy treatment. His family brought items from home to make his stay as comfortable as could be. Andrew ultimately required an NG tube to receive nutrition as the chemo caused oral mucositis, an irritation making it painful for him to eat.
The family is very grateful to the caregiving team at Upstate who ensured their journey was as comfortable and kid-friendly as could be. Andrew remembers playing many games.
After Chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants, Andrew ventured down to NYC for 6 weeks of proton radiation therapy. Ronald McDonald House was not quite ready for the family yet, so Paige’s Childhood Cancer Fund helped offset the cost of a hotel, as it was imperative treatment start right away.
Their first week was spent right in the heart of Times Square. Expecting exhaustion and sickness, the family was surprised once again when Andrew was full of energy and curiosity. Together, they made the most of it, exploring the city and finding small moments of joy amid the challenge. In August 2025, to the delight of his family, Andrew rang the bell at the Waters Center, marking the end of a long, grueling year. The family looks back and wonders, did this really happen? And at the same time, the days were so long they were certain that it had.
The family remains deeply grateful for the support of community organizations that carried them through the difficult times, especially during the holidays, allowing them to put their focus on what mattered most: caring for their sick child and the other two children at home.
To say that the last few months have been a roller coaster would be a huge understatement.
Archie was 7 months old when he was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a type of kidney cancer. He endured a nearly 12-hour surgery…
She was a full, vibrant child, who was so much more than her cancer which she never let it bring her down.
Lainey was 4.5 years old when a lump was discovered in her abdomen. She was a healthy, well-appearing kid with no signs of illness.
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