A family whose son is fighting an incurable form of cancer says his tumor has grown.
FOX23 told you about Owasso High School Assistant Principal Kevin Dotson’s 4-year-old son July Dotson.
Last October, July was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG.
“Nothing can sustain his life,” July’s mother Joani Dotson said. “It’s totally terminal. Our prayers and miraculous healing because we know God is a great physician. He can destroy this tumor. He can restore our boy.”
The community came together to support July and his family, throwing a dodgeball tournament fundraiser in Owasso. Over in Catoosa, Santa took donations for the Dotson family at the Catoosa Winterfest Celebrations .
An update from the family shared the unfortunate news that July’s brain tumor has grown from his original scan last October.
The family says treatment options come with risks, and they are praying for guidance.
“July’s tumor measured larger on yesterday’s MRI from the original scan on October 11th, however the care team knows this is partly due to radiation necrosis, which is also highly correlated with July’s more recent symptoms and mobility limitations. The good news is that we can begin an IV drug treatment that will address the radiation necrosis, and hopefully alleviate some of July’s current symptoms. The bad news is that there is evidence of hydrocephaly, which is life threatening,” Kevin and Joani said in a statement. “He isn’t presenting with any of the usual symptoms of it right now, but if we choose to take the course of action of having a shunt placed, we need to do so before we start the treatment for the radiation necrosis. There are risks and tradeoffs with a shunt placement, so we’ll be prayerfully evaluating the options before making a decision.”