SPOKANE, Wash. - A mother in Cheney is hoping a clinical trial stem-cell transplant will save her son's life. Two and a half years ago, doctors diagnosed Joey Crawyer with having a brain tumor after suffering from severe headaches.
"We walked in and said he's had a brain tumor, and it's been a whirlwind ever since," said Cindy Anderson, mother. "Wow, like what did I do to get this you know," said Joey Crawyer. Joey now has difficulty speaking, his balance is off, and he no longer has the physical strength he once had.
"Coming from a life-long athlete these are things that are very difficult for him to take," said Anderson.
Doctors originally told Joey he's only have a year to live, but he's made it a year and a half longer. However, they've noticed over the past couple months the tumor is progressing, and despite several rounds of chemo and brain surgery they are running out of options. T
hey are now hoping an experimental stem cell transplant at the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles will be the answer.
"It is proving to work with the people in the trial as well as the mice. It stalled the cancer," said Anderson.
Cindy doesn't know how much time she has left with her son, but this holiday season a miracle is the only gift she is asking for to have her him as long as possible.
"This is a miracle that would forever change everyone. Even more than it already has. I'd be able to breathe again," said Anderson.
It's not going to be cheap for Joey's family to have this transplant, and are asking for community support. They have set up an STCU account under the name Joey Crawyer. There is also a PayPal account called "A Buck For A Brain".
If you would like to know more about Joey's story go to caringbridge.org/visit/joeyanderson
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