Law enforcement gathered at Albany Medical Center in New York to show support for an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with brain cancer.
According to CBS affiliate WRGB, John Hoague-Rivette was transferred to hospice care after leaving the hospital. The Albany Police Department tweeted about the visit writing, ”This afternoon, the APD & many from police agencies across the Capital Region met at @AlbanyMed to show their support for John Hoague-Rivette, an 11 y/o boy with brain cancer. John is passionate about law enforcement and we made sure he and his family know they’re not alone.”
Earlier this year, John was diagnosed with a Grade 3 Glioma tumor on his brain stem. He had trouble walking, talking and eating. The young boy was admitted to the hospital on March 2019 and underwent a series of MRIs and CAT scans to assess the problem.
The initial scan showed inflammation in the cerebellum (the center of the brain that controls all mobility). To get symptoms under control, Doctors prescribed high-dose steroids.
The steroids stopped working and his condition deteriorated before Easter. He was admitted to the hospital again for a series of test. He was discharged from the hospital and the biopsy was scheduled for 10 days later.
But unfortunately, symptoms quickly worsened and his parents rushed John back to the hospital and he was immediately admitted to the Pediatric ICU and the biopsy was moved up by several days.
“There’s no easy way to say this: John’s tumors are not responding to treatment. And there is no healing him.”
“John was having difficulty breathing Thursday night. Doctors ordered a CT scan to check the tumors and determine if they were impacting his breathing. The CT showed that the tumors are not responding to the radiation and chemotherapy.”
”The tumors are, in fact, growing.point 143 | John’s medical team cannot believe how aggressive the tumors are and believe that further radiation will only increase inflammation and pain.point 266 |
The growing tumors are now impacting other parts of his body and doctors suggest that it is time to focus on comfort care.point 100 | We’re all devastated and heartbroken.point 135 | “point 142 | 1