Brooks Blackmore, a 6-year-old Carmel boy, lives with a visitor he calls “Bob.”
Bob lives in his brain and his family is trying to get rid of Bob.
After chemotherapy and radiation, Bob keeps getting smaller and smaller.
But the family hopes that Bob can go away.
This past summer, Brooks was diagnosed with an inoperable high grade pediatric midline astrocytoma grade 4. That means he has brain cancer.
Treatments are going well and mother Tracey Blackmore is blown away by her son’s bravery.
“Sometimes he doesn’t understand why he has to keep doing this thing,” she said. “But he’s always so brave. He’s named his tumor ‘Bob’ and he’s in his head and it’s a boo boo and we have to make it better. It’s a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a six-year-old, but our son is so brave. It’s amazing.”
Now the Make-A-Wish Foundation is raising money to send Brooks on a trip to Lego Land in California. Tracey said it’s a nice way for her son to forget about his diagnosis for a brief while.
“I think it means fun and being normal,” she said. “Being away from the doctors and medical staff and just creating memories as a family.”
Back in June, Brooks was a normal healthy boy about to begin kindergarten. But suddenly he wasn’t the same. Tracey and her husband Josh noticed that their son wasn’t talking the same way. His voice was nasally. His balance was off and his left eye turned inward. Brooks said that his head was hurting and asked his parents, “Do you hear those voices?” Testing found an inoperable brain tumor.
He went through treatments of radiation and oral chemotherapy, and the tumor has decreased in size. He’s doing better, but Tracey knows the road ahead isn’t easy.
While going through this ordeal, friends, family and complete strangers have come to the family’s aid.
Anne White and Holly Kirsh, owners of AH Collection, a fashion boutique with locations at Clay Terrace, Hamilton Town Center and Noblesville Square, have gotten involved in fundraising. Their store was selected by W.I.S.H. (Women Inspiring Strength & Hope), a program through Make-A-Wish, to help raise $8,000 so Brooks, his parents and younger twin siblings can go on their dream trip to San Diego.
More than $4,300 has been raised so far, according to their Make-A-Wish fundraising page. Kirsh and White also held a fundraiser at their Clay Terrace location on Feb. 24 and they are planning another fundraiser on March 10 at their Hamilton Town Center Location, 13901 Town Center Blvd. in Noblesville, where people can raise money for Brooks by shopping in the store.
Donations for the family may also be made online at http://makeawishindiana.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1141052&lis=1&kntae1141052=8EC20F23767648D2B489ECD7E5F590F8&supId=432746788&emaillogid=8695824378.
“We are just so honored to be able to help this family,” Kirsh said.
Tracey said her family has learned to appreciate every day and to be thankful for the generosity of others.
“We are blown away for the thoughtfulness and their gratitude,” she said.
