**** Collin lost his battle with cancer on March 23, 2011. Please continue to follow this blog to learn ways to help the family remember this amazing little boy and raise the funds needed to pay for the outstanding medical and funeral expenses. Thank you! ****
Collin is in the first grade at Union Elementary School. He loves to play video games, ride his bike, among other various things boys love to do.
Collin's battle with cancer began when his back and legs began to bother him over a few months time. Then, one week he suddenly began to get worse, very quickly. Within five days, he went from complaining of a sore back and legs, to not being able to use his legs.
Collin is in the first grade at Union Elementary School. He loves to play video games, ride his bike, among other various things boys love to do.
Collin's battle with cancer began when his back and legs began to bother him over a few months time. Then, one week he suddenly began to get worse, very quickly. Within five days, he went from complaining of a sore back and legs, to not being able to use his legs.
He was taken to Riley Hospital where they performed an MRI, and discovered a tumor wrapped around his aorta and then stretching to his spinal cord. The reason he was unable to walk was because the tumor was putting pressure on his spine. That night, at about 3 AM, the surgeons at Riley performed an emergency surgery to remove the part of the tumor that was essentially going to paralyze Collin.
After the surgery, they did extensive testing to determine that the cancer had already spread: the tumor that started the cancer was on one of his adrenal glands above his kidneys. So, he essentially had two tumors, one on the adrenal gland/kidney and one on the aorta (heart)/spine. The type of cancer was neuroblastoma, and when it was discovered it had spread to stage 4.
Since his diagnosis date of August 5th, Collin has undergone extensive chemotherapy, blood and blood product transfusions, hospitalizations for infections and other issues, as well as surgeries. He has a central line in his chest to help with medication administration. He recently had surgery to remove the adrenal gland with the tumor on it. The last four months have included many hospitalizations and painful procedures for Collin.
Collin's initial prognosis for walking was not good, but with extensive therapy he was on his feet again by mid-September. He was improving rapidly with his walking, but he has recently been struggling with eating as a result of extreme digestive problems. As a result, he is extremely weak and unable to walk due to weakness.
Collin's doctors are planning to do more chemo, bone marrow transplants, and radiation. The doctors have given him a 30-40% chance of survival.
Collin's biological family consist of his mom, Julie Simon, and his step-dad, Heath Simon. Collin has an older brother, Zack (age 10), and an older sister, Kasey Susannah (age 11). His Grandmother and Grandfather Wilson, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Collin's maternal aunt, Jenn Wilson (aka "Aunt Sissy") manages this website. The family is very grateful for the incredible support we have been given during this difficult time.
Collin's medical bills are extremely high, as well as other expenses surrounding his care. Thankfully, Collin does have health insurance, though it does not cover everything. The family is currently struggling to make ends meet, and we are doing several fundraisers to help them. Please see the bottom of this site on ways to help, both financially and otherwise.
Please do not hesitate to contact the site administrator and Collin's maternal aunt, Jenn Wilson, with any questions, concerns, comments, and so forth, at jenndwilson83@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your support!!
