by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
A Sartell boy suffering from brain cancer, Connor Rohde, will be the subject of a fundraiser slated from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 in Pinecone Regional Park next to the Bernick’s Arena.
There will be a car show, bake sale, silent auction, hair styling and other fun things to do. Registration for the car show will start at 2:30 p.m. It will cost $10 to register each car.
The event is being coordinated by Amanda Wilken. Connor’s father is a co-worker of Wilken’s at Nahan Printing in St. Cloud.
Three-year-old Connor is the son of Adam and Kristin Rohde. He has an older brother, Aiden, 6.
Connor has an exceedingly rare brain tumor known as Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid tumor. When he was a toddler, Connor kept falling asleep and was drowsy much of the time. His parents became very concerned, and Connor was subjected to a series of blood tests, chest X-rays and a CT scan. Excess fluid was discovered on his brain. Later, the dread diagnosis came: AT/RT. Fortunately, surgeons were able to remove the tumor. But, to everyone’s sadness and dread, a tumor recurred in Connor’s brain recently, which will require more surgery and more treatment, including aggressive chemical and radiation therapies. The family is planning to take Connor to a medical facility in Memphis, Tenn. to try an innovative treatment plan. Children diagnosed with AT/RT rarely live past the age of 3.
“Hopefully, this new one (treatment) will work out for Connor,” Wilken said. “There is really no standard treatment for that kind of cancer.”
Everyone who has met Connor, including the doctors, nurses and staff at Children’s Hospital has fallen in love with the delightful, energetic, courageous tyke. One of his favorite hospital activities was to watch the movie “Nemo” over and over, so much so his mother put the movie on a loop tape.
To find out more about Connor and his ordeal, go to: www.connorscure.com.
Anyone who wants to donate items to the silent auction or bake sale or to contribute in any other way should call Wilken at 320-291-8256 or email her at: mandylou112@gmail.com.