May 8, 2002 - September 6, 2011

Mason passed away early Tuesday morning, September 6th, 2011 at 12:41 am peacefully.  He was surrounded by family, friends and much love.

This site is about Mason. He is nine years old and lives in Winston-Salem, NC. He loved science and math, to sing and dance and was always inventing things. He liked to play on the Wii and ride his bike with his dad when he ran.  He wanted to be a brain surgeon when he grew up. He went to Lewisville Elementary School.  This is where you can find out what Mason was up to his last few years.  He had a lot going on for a nine year old. 

On September 1st of 2009 Mason had a headache. He had to go to the hospital because it lasted for five days. After a few hours the doctors found what was causing the headaches. The doctors initially said there was a 'mass'...  It turned out to be a ping pong ball sized tumor. Eventually they called it anaplastic ganglioglioma. Mason underwent two craniotomies to remove it.  He then had to go through radiation treatment and chemotherapy treatment. He then went through a 10 month long chemotherapy (temozolomide) and immunotherapy schedule in 2010.

In January of this year an MRI revealed a new tumor that was growing rapidly.  He started a very aggressive chemotherapy schedule that included several different drugs - many of them experimental.  Mason continued with this chemo treatment until an August 2011 MRI revealed rapid progression of the disease.  We stopped all treatments and sought to enjoy his last few weeks on this earth.

His spirit lives in all who met him.  He was brave beyond his years and his courage is legendary.  He taught us about life.  He taught us about ourselves.  He made us better people.  He was a hero and he will be missed.