June 3, 2007 – December 5, 2016
Diagnosed: March 18, 2016
Written by Ethan’s mom, Khia
My name is Khia. My son is 9 year old Ethan Fox. Ethan was diagnosed with DIPG on March 18, 2016. Ethan was a normal 8 year old until around December 2015 we noticed he wasn’t feeling well. Christmas break, normally something very exciting for him, was something at this point he was not really into this year. By January, anytime Ethan ate he would throw up. He laid around all day with no energy. Come February, his balance was way off, and he needed help walking. By March, his vision had doubled, and he had been having headaches that changed to just pressure when he coughed, laughed or sneezed. That was a red flag.
By this time we had been in and out of emergency rooms at 3 different hospitals numerous times. Each time doctors would treat his symptoms and send us back home. It was killing me knowing all these doctors at 3 different hospitals couldn’t see that my little boy was dwindling away. Anyone that looked at him could see how sick he was. After losing 10 lbs, and being miserable for about 3 months, I made yet another checkup visit and demanded a head scan before we would leave that office. So glad I did!!! They flew us to CHOP (one of the hospitals who once sent us away) and were now telling me Ethan has DIPG and pretty much no child survives.
Since then Ethan was put on steroids which controled his headaches. His vision was still doubled. He went from 62 lbs to 109 lbs in a matter of about 3 months. This caused walking problems again due to the weight gain. He had switched hospitals and he was put on new steroids and since then he was down to 98 lbs, up running around, chasing his baby brother, and feeling very good overall. He then got scans about every other month.
Ethan had a 2 year old brother and an 11 year old sister. Ethan’s dad passed away in 2011. Ethan loved blue sharks, video games and being outdoors. He lived in Pennsylvania. Ethan loved his siblings and enjoyed doing things with them.
We did not receive a miracle for my baby but we hope for a miracle for every other child out there battling this horrible DIPG.
Ethan Fox, 9, of West Washington Street, Bradford, passed away at his home on Monday, December 5, 2016 surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with D.I.P.G.
Ethan was born on June 3, 2007, in Culpepper, Va. He was the son of Khia Pire of Bradford, and the late Robert Derek Fox.
Ethan Strong
