“After symptoms that appeared suddenly and two visits to the pediatrician, Luke Morin was taken to the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital Colorado. On April 8, 2018, Luke’s family received devastating news that there was an inoperable and very aggressive tumor in his brain called DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). Aggressive indeed. Two radiation attempts and seventeen days later, Luke lost his battle with DIPG. He was 5 years old..,” and thus began the Morin family’s journey with “Luke’s Posse,”dedicated to funding pediatric brain cancer research at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Dr. Rajeev Vibhakar, Luke’s attending physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, joins us in this podcast to discuss the advances in pediatric brain cancer research that the Morin family supports through the Foundation at the Hospital.  DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is one of the most challenging enigmas of pediatric cancer research today. Within 2 years of Luke’s passing, the family has raised tens of thousands for research; the most recent fundraiser on Nov. 3, 2019, netting over $20,000.

The new reality the family faces without their son is especially difficult during the Holidays.  Jill and Cam Morin discuss how they do it, how they cope with the new normal where their son is present only in spirit and not in person.  Childhood Cancer Talk Radio’s host Janet Demeter shares with the Morins her parallel confrontation with this reality at 7 years past the loss of her son to the same pediatric brain cancer, DIPG, and the unique challenges that losing a child brings to a family.  The accomplishments of the Morin family, and their positive attitude toward life and the legacy of their son are exceptional; their experience is shared by a large bereaved population in the US and reaching out for help is encouraged in times of need for emotional support.