Gavin’s Story: Back to Being a Kid

For six-year-old Gavin, life was filled with the things every child should enjoy: playing with friends, youth hockey games and outdoor adventures with her family. Then, during a family trip, everything changed.

“While we were on the airplane, we recognized that Gavin was having some pretty significant headaches,” her mother, Ali, recalled. “Gavin woke up screaming on the airplane.”

Concerned, Gavin’s parents sought medical attention immediately upon returning home. A brain scan revealed the cause of her symptoms: a brain tumor.

“The good part about her brain tumor was that it was benign and we knew that from the beginning,” Ali said. “So, pretty quickly, we were seeing some specialists in Colorado and just not pleased with their answers.”

No Cancer? No Urgency.

Even though the tumor was not cancerous, Gavin’s symptoms were affecting every part of her life. She was missing school, unable to participate in activities she loved and struggling with debilitating headaches.

Feeling unheard and seeking better answers, Gavin’s family found Boys Town’s Pediatric Neuroscience program. The program brings together board-certified, fellowship-trained specialists who provide comprehensive, family-centered care for children with neurological conditions.

Specialized clinics and services allow teams to address not only a child’s medical needs, but also psychological, social and emotional challenges that often accompany complex diagnoses. Boys Town National Research Hospital’s Pediatric Neuroscience program offers coordinated care through specialized neurology and neurosurgery services and advanced diagnostic imaging and treatment. Every aspect of care is designed around the unique needs of each child and family.

For Gavin’s family, that coordinated approach made an immediate difference.

“When we came the first time, we saw the headache specialist and we saw Dr. Puccioni (a neurosurgeon) all in the same visit, which was great coordination of care for us coming from Colorado,” Ali said.

After further testing, Gavin underwent a left-sided craniotomy at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Following surgery, her symptoms resolved completely.

As the family prepared to leave the hospital, Ali heard words she will never forget: “Mom, I didn’t know I could feel this good.”

Today, the headaches are gone. The tumor is gone. Most importantly, Gavin is back to being a kid.

“She got her life back,” her father, Tommy, said. “To be around everyone that works here at Boys Town, it brings just such joy to us and our family for what they did for Gavin.”