Good news from Kohen

Nick Seebruch
Good news from Kohen
Three-year-old Kohen Pascheck. Jackie McRae Spence

CORNWALL, Ontario – Three-year old Kohen Paschek has faced tough adversity at his young age. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor.

He is one of only 15 children in the world right now to have had this tumor and, doctors said that if removed, there would still be a 98 percent chance of the tumor recurring.

Now, it has been a little over a year since Kohen has finished his treatment and his doctors say that there is no evidence of disease and that the tumor bed is reducing in size.

Additionally, just in the past year, advances have been made in Kohen’s type of cancer.

“When it was removed, the doctors begged us to have Kohen’s tumor for research because it is so rare,” said Kohen’s mom Jessie.

Thanks to the research done by the Arthur & Sonia Labatt Research Centre in Toronto on his own tumor, doctors have raised Kohen’s survival chance from 2 percent to 50 percent. However, if the cancer returns he is out of treatment options, which is why his mother Jessie is working so hard to raise funds for this valuable research.

With things looking up, Kohen is ready to start at a Montesorri pre-school, and will soon be able to play sports.

Doctors say that he shows no signs developmental delays because of the brain tumor, although he does have to be a little careful when taking bumps on the head, because there is a gap in his skull where the tumor used to be, but doctors say that gap is shrinking.

Kohen’s mom Jessie has organized a few upcoming fundraisers in order to raise money for vital research into brain tumors.

“A lot of people don’t know, but brain tumors have overtaken Leukemia as the leading cause of cancer-related death in children,” she said. “Yet only three percent of the Canadian government funding goes towards that research.”

On April 23 from 12 5 p.m. to 5 p.m. there will be an Afternoon of Music in support of Team Kohen at the Eight Zero Zero Resto Lounge, who have donated their restaurant as the venue for the event. Music will be provided by Bob and Ducky, Steve Proulx and Al Wagner from Twisted Kilt and Jill Leclaire, Cameron MacPhee and Virginia Diperro from Llawnroc, who have all donated their time. Entry to the event is free, but donations are accepted at the door.

On April 29 and 30 there will be a Charity Yard and Bake Sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Jessie says that she is looking for a lot of donations for the yard sale and items can be dropped off at 104 Westmoreland Ave., or they can be picked up by Jessie if donors want to email her at jessie.mcdonald104@gmail.com.

Share this article