DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the family of Tanner Gillen is sharing his story.
Tanner's journey started with a misdiagnosed stroke in 2018 when he couldn't feel movement in his right hand. His mother, Amy, was convinced it wasn't a stroke.
As symptoms developed, Tanner was soon diagnosed with Glioblastoma- a form of brain cancer. The vicious cancer spread too fast for doctors to remove, and Tanner passed away in 2019 at the age of 14.
But, that's not how Tanner would want his story to end.
Tanner was a free spirit who cared deeply about everyone else around him. As his mom shared, whenever someone asked him how he was during treatment, his reply was "Can't complain."
After Tanner passed, he continued to help others. His mom donated his brain and spine to cancer research.
"Researchers from around the world are able to take Tanner's tumor, and do studies on it knowing how it started, and how it evolved" shared Amy.
Today, Tanner's story is helping other pediatric cancer patients and furthering the research. The cases of childhood cancer continue to rise, and Tanner's story now will play a small part in helping find a cure.
As Tanner's mom shares, "It's all he would ever want."
If you would like to buy a shirt to honor Tanner, and spread awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness, you can purchase one here.
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