Our family was rocked when our son Vinny was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2022.  Up to that point Vinny was a normal 10-year-old boy, loving life, enjoying the 5th grade and looking forward to spending his last year of elementary school with his friends.  Everything changed on October 23rd, 2022, when out of nowhere Vinny’s urine turned blood red.  We took him to the ER thinking he had a UTI or kidney stones, only to find there was a mass on his right kidney.  By the morning of October 24th, he was diagnosed with cancer, and he had his right kidney removed on October 25th.  Prognosis coming out of the surgery was good, as the surgeon reported the tumor was confined within the kidney.  The thought was that this was either a renal cell tumor, which would require no additional treatment, or a Wilms tumor which would require some level of treatment.  Pathology would take a little while and the focus was to be on recovering from surgery.  The first few days following surgery were tough but Vinny fought hard and was released on Saturday, October 29th.  Two days later he was out trick or treating with his friends, feeling good, and we thought we were in good shape moving forward.

Unfortunately, the pathology did not come back as we expected.  The reports showed the tumor was neither a renal cell or Wilms tumor and was instead a rhabdoid tumor.  Even though the tumor was completely removed, the doctors categorized this tumor as a very rare and aggressive tumor and said that if one cell escaped the kidney it could spread fast and be catastrophic.  Because of this, the doctors stressed the importance of starting an aggressive radiation and chemo regimen as soon as possible to prevent any spread.  We spent the next few days undergoing tests, getting radiation mapping done, getting second opinions and trying to prepare for what was ahead.  Vinny had another surgery, to have a port put into his chest, on Tuesday, November 8th and radiation and chemotherapy started the next morning.

Radiation was originally set to be 6 sessions but following conversations with multiple doctors, in multiple states, the decision was made to be as aggressive as possible and to increase the radiation to 17 sessions.  This, combined with chemotherapy, would give us the best chance of success.  Radiation started on November 9th and took place most weekdays, at the hospital.  He had his last session on December 2nd, 2022.

Chemotherapy also started on November 9th, 2022.  Vinny was on a regimen of 6 different types of chemotherapy, which ran in cycles.  He completed chemotherapy on June 4th, 2023 - 32 weeks to the exact day of his diagnosis.

While this has been the most difficult time of our lives, we are also very thankful for the outpouring of love and support we've gotten from family, friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers. While all the gifts, gift cards and food have been so very much appreciated, it’s the messages that we have received, and continue to receive, that mean the most. They’ve kept us strong at the times we’ve felt weak, and they keep us focused as we continue to fight this fight with everything we have.  There is still a long road ahead, but with Vinny’s Army behind him, we know Vinny will not be denied.

We could never truly express what all of your love and support has meant, so we will just say thank you!

With Love!

Nick and Valerie Cusumano