A family’s world was shattered when their seemingly healthy 13-year-old son began exhibiting subtle changes that led to one of the most devastating diagnoses imaginable. Brody Huber, described by his mother Tina as an adventurous and athletic boy, passed away just eight months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. His story is not only one of profound loss but also a powerful call to action, as his family now works tirelessly to fund research so others might be spared their heartbreak.
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The first signs were easy to dismiss. In June 2020, Brody started experiencing fatigue and headaches—symptoms that could belong to any growing teenager. However, his mother, Tina, felt a persistent intuition that something was wrong. Her concern deepened during a family camping trip when Brody, who loved the outdoors, asked to cut the adventure short due to an unrelenting headache. Trusting her instinct, Tina and her husband, Jeff, scheduled an MRI for their son.
The scan revealed a “pretty significant mass” on the right side of Brody’s brain, an discovery his mother described as an “earthquake” for their family. A subsequent biopsy delivered the devastating diagnosis: Brody had a diffuse midline glioma H3K27M, a tumor so aggressive it is often called “the worst of the worst.” Doctors presented a grim choice: undergo radiation for a possible 6-9 months of life, or forgo treatment and face just three months. The family chose to fight, pursuing radiation, clinical trials, and various holistic therapies.
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Despite their efforts, including participation in an innovative clinical trial at the Vitanza Lab in Seattle, Brody’s cancer spread. He passed away in March 2021. In the face of their loss, his family established the Brody Huber Foundation to raise funds for the research lab that gave them hope. To date, they have raised $85,000, with a goal of donating another $50,000 on what would have been Brody’s 19th birthday. Their mission is clear: to prevent other families from enduring the same unimaginable pain.
