Hopefully the story below will demonstrate, you can have a full life after a brain tumor. As you will soon learn, I am very proud of my son. I am writing this not to brag but to let the you know that not every brain tumor is a death sentence.

Everytime we return for his follow-up appointments and I see so many innocent children in pain, I question my faith in God. Yet, I find myself spending more and more time in the St Jude Children's Hospital Chapel praying myself to tears for every child suffering with cancer and for those that we spent so much time with while going through the treatments that have sence passed away. It will take me a long time to completely reconcile my faith in God, but I do so feverently believe in the power of prayer.
In 1999 my son, Robert Woodward at age 9 became the 1st Class 7 Gymnast in Oregon history to win all six individual events plus the All-Around in the Men's Gymnastic State Championships. Previously he had won a state championship in TaeKwonDo Forms and also the Archery Championship for his age in the Oregon State Games making him a 3 sport champion. Aprox. 18 months later he was diagnosed with a rapidly growing ependymoma the size of his eyeball in the area of the brain responsible for sence of balance (the reason for his early diagnosos because gymnasts depend on a keen sence of balance). He had surgery in Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital and entered the RT-1 Protocol study at St Jude Children's Resaerch Hospital.

Two months after compteting radiation therapy at St Jude and 6 months after his surgery he entered the Rose City Challenge (5-State Gymnastics Tournament) and won the Pommel Horse event. The next year he won 2 more events at the gymnastics State Championship and later placed 2 consecutative years in the top 50 in the nation at the NAA Indoor Archery Nationals at Salt Lake City.
He has since turned his attention to music these last 4 years. He is the 2008 OSAA State Champion on Classical Guitar after taking 2nd place the previous two years. He is the Principal Oboe in the local Youth symphony where he also plays English Horn. Add to that he plays Alto & Tenor Sax and baritone for his HS school events. He was selected to be this years Oregon representative to the Sousa National Honors band.

Academically,he is a member of his schools National Honors Society and got a perfect score on the PSAT Math test.

My message to parent who's child is diagnosed with a brain tumor, make sure you have your options explained to you and do your research. There is a lot of information on the internet that is bad. Trust only the data from well known research hospitals or groups like the Amecican Cancer Society.

For more info about Robert's treatment go to http://www.stjude.org/ and search the site for on "Woodward" or follow the link below: http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0a212066d5e70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=1cebbfe82e118010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD&SearchUrl=search_results.jsp&QueryText=Woodward

I pray your childs treatment is as successful as my son's was.

P.S. He graduates from High School tonight!!!!!!!!!!!